Fire-Resistant Fabrics Can Save Lives

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30479, 29 June 1964, Page 2

Fire-Resistant Fabrics Can Save Lives

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We are constantly being reminded of the toil of life taken byaccidents on the road. Recent events show we are not all aware of the dangers lurking in our own homes, and of the safety measures we may take. Statistics quoted in “The Press” last w eek shdw that much incidental suSering, physical maiming and disfigurement result from clothing catching alight. Frequently, the result is death itself.

S jch aeeidecte in tins ar.i other eoastres. a.’.d the pulzi-city given to them, have rstihed in investigations by schentists on the flammahchty of «iiffevwr»t fabrics- They Are more tr_£r. ever aware of the need for neSabie ar-d curah-je ftatr^-res-'sta rt fchshes for < !aE'!nuu>je fabrics.

h-zrz oe es&e vz wz.cz they do sc oe tie fibres >re®K* asd the nipri CJJaa. These fabrxs fail cocvezierst-y zrio two tzam zasses. tze pocencazy cansery-s arc zacze-recstanz Tbere are ksg the acovely coes ( zees wrz. lacq->er iesagzs*. vx tzei m dow bazsed. Tr»ea tzere are toe fireproof es-.esw-s azc gass facocs tes—tac.e for orcczary exxntz? Those with a flame '-otard rxz as axwz zoea. and rayoc, cairn a_.zz* and rce-

tsoue to surz wren witndrawn fro- the flame. If the aiui doth fire a extizgzszed. tnere may be az 12ZJ-.e tie fabne or -zzer macena: nearby. Acetate rayoc (the rayon tzat setts tzru tr-zte as q-x-cty as rs cote rayon (the more usua. rayon l izat Ks hot mett may cause ixs. A hgzt-weizjst Ssxt fabric made of these fi bees barns m tee rapidly than a bearv. c.asety woven Toose with a hot reeit hazard- such as the x-mtzeXac fibres, nylon and teryie&e, men and sanzk from tze flame, bat do not barn xaess in long c-xnact ■wt-th t’_ Under certain csrc -mstances. tse bat mex may chag to the sen and cause severe bora. The risk w h-gz -1 a ny.oc underskm is worn bezeatz a sheer, filmy ctttca or rayon dress which has caught akgnt. Treatment The natwalo flamc-restst- • w». and silk b-am Mowry and do z<* eorfczue to bora, nor do they leave an afterfrom tne flame. OJ-er fiame-res;st-azt fabrics are those vrinefi have been given a rpec.al treatment. The method smeousu use to determine the degree of fiamsmb.ljty fabrics .= to'

test ttec by a standard zjethod. That means under stmtlar eonditiotis. In princspie, the test measures the speed at wbiefi a flame travels up the fabric wittie x is suspended vertically. The resulting measurement is referred V. a* the Same-resistant rat-

_2g. Fabcxs sarii as zet ssd fiahneteac hawe a zw ra?zzg azd (xsra (rxxkiy. tweed sz-i iazze-. save a zias ratizg izi sarz very riowty. It ts OCTMZ3 all garz-e zts caz&x be made of w“»: azd tost -awry msst be mace cif «®ob azZ raytc. T&ere daa researsh jn&o tae problem of esoct ZKze-cesistarr w£z>x£ impKT-zg its zoraal --- sod saz--z« Sevesai proeessea are avaiaz-l*—Procan, Resista m the Utzteri States az-i tzfeszazd 'Ertfoz m the UzttsZ States i.

Treated ■vzjosyettes azd v-x.es, wzez iz contact wife a dazte. do rzz catch axzzz but merely czar. They do xk iare a xrr does a Same travel np •oe faznc. I"sere is no aftergJ'yv or ezxzldertzg. azd what s —-jet zzportazr, they are durably iarae-res .stazz Weznzs and washing trials on treated w-z-eeyerje mgstdresses avazan.e sa New Zeaaad stowed that tins fcstsh wut-aszed the hfe of the garmeets Suppzes >z tse New Zealand rity, betaioe women were ieciaadiag 3. were c-zckly -used m *?ae of the rzgh-er east a yard.

Precautions As mall children are frequently dressed and -zdressed before fires, or radiators, efcoose fiazE-e-reststant wineeyette nightdresses or X-.azas rpyjamas are safer>: make sure fires, gas fires and radiators ail have guards; keep matches oat of their reach, and never leave small rhildrea taattenried in a room with a fire. Long, finny dresses made of net «■ organdie should not be worn over synthetic undergarments, w near fires and radiators. Choeoe “flare-free” nylon net for dresses. Dont place a mirror over a mantlepiece. Do not place a radiator on a chair while clearing a room. Remember, Sameresistant wincey ette is always safer.

Dressing gowns are important garments for the aged and infirm, as well as for children, as a protection from the cold when passing from a warm room to a colder one The fabrics must therefore be warm ones and the garments must always be long.

The ideal p--.rma.~e s :.'c be i garment. bat the p-rree s beyosd the reach of mazy -.her pestle. They most bey csocn w rays® fairies which nave been napped tr brushed or whies. use fiagy yarns. Air. an e-eeiiest tzsaiator. is thus ecsdosed. in -the fabric S’»Zd the fabric areideztaliy come into contact with a fire, radiator or lighted mates. these fam ma hie fibres quickly catch alight and burn ierrery. Unfortunately. these iressmg gown materials are not treated. Choose fiameresistaat w_aeeyette fw nightdresses and wooiien matena. for dressing gowns, if yoa ean agord it. ff yos cart eiercse the greatest care with obtson and rayon ones For The Aged Special inralad tables designed to fit under the feet of the aged would often save them front falling forward wrest asleep in a chair, and perzaps the paper they are reading from falling near a radiator. Easiator feies •aocld be kept strt of the way of the inf m when walking Xot only is their co-ordiza-tsce poor, bat their eyesight is dimmer than they care to acknowledge. As many fabr.es containing bo wool are made to resemble it in both appearance and nandie, these should obviously be labelled so that precautions ear be taken. Woenen and chi!frets prove to be the chief vietimx. As women are almost entirely responsible

for the buying and care of the clothing fur their families ' azd for the care of children and invalids, they are vitally w.eemed and affected. They must know what they are buying They must know whether the doth is made of wool, or of potetHsally dazgerozs exton or rayon, or of Evion k other synthetics with their hot melt hazard. They nrist make danands for fiame-resistant wizeeyette and dressing gown fabrics to be available and to be labelled accordingiv. The United States and the Scandinaviar. countries, by inserting essential information on their fabric labels, have given their women a great advantage. It. is now within their power to reduce the number of agonising accidents caused by fire. In Farmington, Connecticut, a 25-year-old New York dancer was arrested by vice-squad detectives on Thursday for wearing the new topless bathing suit in public, United Press International reported.! The girl identified herself as “Hope Diamond” but said her real name was Leona Bonaccolta. She was arrested at Battersea Park when she left the water after a swim.