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Cost-benefit analyses of sprinklers in nursing homes for elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2013

Henrik Jaldell
Henrik Jaldell*
Affiliation:
Karlstad University – Economics, Universitetsgatan 1 Karlstad 651 88, Sweden
*
Henrik Jaldell, Karlstad University – Economics, Universitetsgatan 1 Karlstad 651 88, Swedenhenrik.jaldell@kau.se
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Abstract

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The risk of dying in fires in nursing homes is six times the risk of dying in fires at home in Sweden. One way to reduce this risk is to install fire sprinklers. This study measures the benefits using value of full lives, life years and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for deaths and injuries. The results show that sprinklers are cost-effective in newly built nursing homes no matter what value of life is used. However, if sprinklers are installed in already existing buildings, they are cost-effective only if the value of a statistical life is used.

Keywords

elderlyfire safetyQALYvalue of life

Information

Type
Article
Information
Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , 01 August 2013 , pp. 209 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis 2013

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