Families with newborns: Using a cartographic model to identify those who are at risk for fires

We assessed whether a home fire safety intervention targeting families with newborn children in Jefferson County, Kentucky, reached those at severe risk using a cartographic model. Demographic and economic factors of 61 families were compared by census tract. Using geographic information systems (GIS), families were assigned a risk level (low, medium, high, or severe) based on the risk model. Families who participated differed from census tracts in that of being minority race (p=0.01). The median risk category of the families was medium risk. Sixty-five tracts were identified as high or severe risk and in need of future intervention. The model yielded a way to prioritize at-risk families. GIS is a useful tool for examining whether prevention interventions reached those in the severe risk category.