Risk factors for fire injury in school leavers: A review of the literature

• Research on engaging 18–24 year olds in fire safe behavior is limited.
• Risk factors are renting, crowded housing, socio-economic status, substance use and smoking.
• 18–24 year olds are at risk due to membership in high risk groups and young person status.
• Development of campaigns should involve youth and be targeted at youth.
• Campaigns should use humor, positivity, peer influence and social norms interventions.

Young adults aged between 18 and 24 years make up a significant proportion of those involved in unsafe fire behavior. Despite this, research into this group is sparse. This review suggests that young adults are at high risk for unsafe fire involvement due to their membership in other high risk groups such as renters, crowded housing dwellers, and low socio-economic status groups, and their involvement in high fire risk activities such as alcohol and drug use, and smoking. Young people are also at risk for unsafe fire involvement due to their status as young people and the effect this has on engaging in unsafe behavior. Existing fire safety campaigns are discussed and research into engaging young adults in adopting non-fire related safety behaviors is examined. Factors considered successful at engaging young adults in safety behaviors, including targeted and tailored campaigns grounded in research and theory, youth involvement in development, and the use of humor, positivity, peer influence and social norms interventions, are considered and suggestions are made as to how these could be applied to the development of future fire safety campaigns for the 18–24 year old age group.