Last spring a Foam and Mattress Factory burned down in the west end of Toronto. That was uncommon, but what is common is mattresses that catch fire in bedrooms. Believe it or not according to U.S. statistics – “Every day one person dies in a bedroom fire”.
Foamite’s public relations campaign to educate consumers about fire-resistant foam, used in bedding, has generated a lot of interest amongst local fire fighters and sleep experts. Most people are not aware of the variety of foam available; therefore, it is not suprising that they also do not know that some foam grades are available in both regular and fire-retadant.
We believe that we have a responsibility to make safer mattresses, but ultimately it is up to the consumer to be educated and to decide what is best for them. In terms of safety, the issue of fire resistant mattresses is equally as important to mattresses as airbags were to automobiles ten years ago.
Considering that someone in the United States dies in a bedroom fire every day (according to the U.S. Consumer Products and Safety Commission), many of whom are children, we should not wait until regulations are mandatory before we offer safer mattresses to consumers. Give yourself and your family members a chance. Save a little on the thickness or the cover, but make sure that you buy a Fireshield Barrier for your mattress. It’s a no brainer!
What’s a Fireshield Barrier?
It’s a separate fire barrier, which encases the foam underneath the mattress cover. It adds even more protection to fire retardant foam. It provides open flame protection and prevents the foam from igniting and the fire from spreading.
It is a new fire-resistant Tencel fibre, derived from sustainably farmed trees. It is made using an environmentally-friendly closed-loop fibre spinning process. Still we didn’t stop there. Foamite’s Fireshield barrier is UL Greenguard certified. It has been tested for thousands of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and found not to contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Woman Dies in Bedroom Fire
This can happen anywhere, don’t let it happen to you!
Investigators are looking into the cause and origin of a fire that killed a woman inside her third-floor apartment in East Scarborough this past Thursday afternoon.
Firefighters were called in at about 11:20 p.m., said Deputy Fire Chief Michael Ajello. Initially faced with thick, heavy smoke, firefighters made their way into the third-floor bedroom where they discovered a body, said Ajello.
Neighbors said the prospects of the woman escaping the fire on her own appeared grim from the start. “She wasn’t disabled but it was hard for her to get around,” said Monique Brown, a neighbor who has lived in the area for 28 years.
“I saw real thick smoke, I saw the firemen throwing out two mattresses,” said Brown. “One was really charred, one was still burning.” Officials did not immediately identify the victim, but Brown referred to the woman as “Miss Johnson,” a 45-year resident in the building.
“She stayed to herself, didn’t really mingle,” said Brown. “They were telling us it was really bad up there,” she said. “It’s just really sad.” It took about 25 minutes for the six to eight fire companies that responded to get the fire under control.
Final Word
Buy fire-retardant foam that is not made with TRIS, PDBEs or any other harmful chemicals or substances that could be detrimental to your helath. If you are not sure about what you are getting, buy regular “non-FR” foam and encase it in a Foamite Fireshield Barrier.
Sincerely,
R.C. (Bob) Dimas
Be the best that you can be by doing whatever is necessary to improve your safety and the quality of your sleep!
