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| Self-extinguishing cigarettes and other curious little safety inventions | Self-extinguishing cigarettes and other curious little safety inventions |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Rema Rahman BBC News | By Rema Rahman BBC News |
| In Europe, "self-extinguishing" cigarettes are about to become law but where do they stand in the pantheon of safety innovations? | In Europe, "self-extinguishing" cigarettes are about to become law but where do they stand in the pantheon of safety innovations? |
| The images from fire safety films are painfully familiar. | The images from fire safety films are painfully familiar. |
| They usually feature someone smoking on the sofa - perhaps watching television - only to nod off while the cigarette is still alight. Soon, it drops out of the hand, eventually setting fire to the furniture. | They usually feature someone smoking on the sofa - perhaps watching television - only to nod off while the cigarette is still alight. Soon, it drops out of the hand, eventually setting fire to the furniture. |
| From 17 November, a new EU directive will require cigarettes to meet a reduced ignition propensity (RIP) requirement. They will be manufactured to be self-extinguishable, to reduce the chance that they should set fire to sofas, beds and other combustible materials. | From 17 November, a new EU directive will require cigarettes to meet a reduced ignition propensity (RIP) requirement. They will be manufactured to be self-extinguishable, to reduce the chance that they should set fire to sofas, beds and other combustible materials. |
| In England, of the 212 people that died in house fires last year, 81 were the result of cigarettes, cigars and pipes, says the Department of Communities and Local Government. | In England, of the 212 people that died in house fires last year, 81 were the result of cigarettes, cigars and pipes, says the Department of Communities and Local Government. |
| The DCLG estimates the new types of cigarettes could save up to 64 lives each year in England. | The DCLG estimates the new types of cigarettes could save up to 64 lives each year in England. |
| Some RIP cigarettes use paper that is rolled differently to normal cigarettes. Narrow bands of paper are applied on top of traditional cigarette paper at various intervals during the paper-making process. | Some RIP cigarettes use paper that is rolled differently to normal cigarettes. Narrow bands of paper are applied on top of traditional cigarette paper at various intervals during the paper-making process. |
| The idea is that these act like "speed bumps". When the cigarette burns down to one of these rings, in the absence of fairly steady puffing, there is a greater chance that the cigarette will go out than with traditional versions. | The idea is that these act like "speed bumps". When the cigarette burns down to one of these rings, in the absence of fairly steady puffing, there is a greater chance that the cigarette will go out than with traditional versions. |
| Safety campaigners stress that there is no such thing as a truly "fire-safe" cigarette but that something that potentially improves public safety can only be a good thing. | Safety campaigners stress that there is no such thing as a truly "fire-safe" cigarette but that something that potentially improves public safety can only be a good thing. |
| New York became the first US state to adopt reduced ignition propensity cigarettes in 2004. In 2009, the state reported an estimated 33% reduction in fatalities due to materials catching fire because of cigarettes. | New York became the first US state to adopt reduced ignition propensity cigarettes in 2004. In 2009, the state reported an estimated 33% reduction in fatalities due to materials catching fire because of cigarettes. |
| Other states have followed New York's lead. Today RIPs are available across the US, Canada and Australia. | Other states have followed New York's lead. Today RIPs are available across the US, Canada and Australia. |
| But it has been a long journey for what appears to be a simple invention. | But it has been a long journey for what appears to be a simple invention. |
| According to reports, the first North American patent for a self-extinguishing cigarette was registered as early as 1854. Many other patents have been registered since, but early versions usually involved the addition of fire retardants. | According to reports, the first North American patent for a self-extinguishing cigarette was registered as early as 1854. Many other patents have been registered since, but early versions usually involved the addition of fire retardants. |
| The original concept for the types of "fire safer" cigarettes that focus on the paper date back to the early 1900s, according to fire safety scientist Richard Gann. | The original concept for the types of "fire safer" cigarettes that focus on the paper date back to the early 1900s, according to fire safety scientist Richard Gann. |
| But it has taken decades for the tobacco industry to get behind it. | But it has taken decades for the tobacco industry to get behind it. |
| "The 'fire safer' cigarette is the latest of a huge number of simple but clever inventions that really can save lives," says Jack Challoner, science writer and author of several books on the history of invention. | "The 'fire safer' cigarette is the latest of a huge number of simple but clever inventions that really can save lives," says Jack Challoner, science writer and author of several books on the history of invention. |
| "Simple ideas really can save lives - and the best ones can quickly become taken for granted. Without cat's eyes, for example, driving at night would be far more hazardous - but how often do we take notice of them?" says Challoner. | "Simple ideas really can save lives - and the best ones can quickly become taken for granted. Without cat's eyes, for example, driving at night would be far more hazardous - but how often do we take notice of them?" says Challoner. |
| "No one likes it when smoke detectors go off when you are burning toast or when we have to change the batteries - but we are in awe of simple inventions like this when they save lives. And they do." | "No one likes it when smoke detectors go off when you are burning toast or when we have to change the batteries - but we are in awe of simple inventions like this when they save lives. And they do." |
Smoke detector | Smoke detector |
| Duane Pearsall did not intend to create a smoke detector in 1965 - instead he was trying to measure static electricity in a dark room. | Duane Pearsall did not intend to create a smoke detector in 1965 - instead he was trying to measure static electricity in a dark room. |
| He became irritated when the device, which was measuring the concentration of ions, went off every time his assistant lit a cigarette. For Pearsall, it meant he had to start his experiment all over again. | He became irritated when the device, which was measuring the concentration of ions, went off every time his assistant lit a cigarette. For Pearsall, it meant he had to start his experiment all over again. |
| That is, until he realised he had a useful tool on his hands - one that eventually led to the creation of the first battery-powered home smoke detector. It is claimed the device has saved about 50,000 lives. | That is, until he realised he had a useful tool on his hands - one that eventually led to the creation of the first battery-powered home smoke detector. It is claimed the device has saved about 50,000 lives. |
| The "a-ha moment" between creation and innovation is a "brilliant process", says Jeff Woolf, two-time British inventor of the year. | The "a-ha moment" between creation and innovation is a "brilliant process", says Jeff Woolf, two-time British inventor of the year. |
| Many inventors and researchers will have created a solution for a long-researched problem. But there has to be a leap from creating something for one reason, only to realise it can be used for another. | Many inventors and researchers will have created a solution for a long-researched problem. But there has to be a leap from creating something for one reason, only to realise it can be used for another. |
| "That has happened many times in the past," says Woolf. | "That has happened many times in the past," says Woolf. |
| That's where real creativity comes from, he says. To leap from noticing that cigarette setting off a static electricity monitor - to realising it could be used to help save people. | |
| "He could have just left it. The real innovation is taking that thought and using it." | "He could have just left it. The real innovation is taking that thought and using it." |
Palm-n-Turn bottle cap | Palm-n-Turn bottle cap |
| When educating parents about keeping medicine out of a child's reach was failing to reduce the number of stomachs being pumped, paediatrician Dr Henri J Breault decided something had to be done. | When educating parents about keeping medicine out of a child's reach was failing to reduce the number of stomachs being pumped, paediatrician Dr Henri J Breault decided something had to be done. |
| The Windsor Poison Control Center in Canada, where Dr Breault was director, had reported 175 poisonings in 1966. | The Windsor Poison Control Center in Canada, where Dr Breault was director, had reported 175 poisonings in 1966. |
| The next year he perfected the Palm-n-Turn cap, the familiar medicine bottles where you have to push down hard before the lid can be removed. | The next year he perfected the Palm-n-Turn cap, the familiar medicine bottles where you have to push down hard before the lid can be removed. |
| The lids were intended to be difficult for children to open, but easy enough for everyone else. Soon, they had found widespread success in Ontario - reducing the number of poisonings by 25% for children under six years old. | The lids were intended to be difficult for children to open, but easy enough for everyone else. Soon, they had found widespread success in Ontario - reducing the number of poisonings by 25% for children under six years old. |
| The US made them mandatory on some medicine bottles in 1970 and in 1975, the UK did the same. Today, you can find the design almost anywhere. | The US made them mandatory on some medicine bottles in 1970 and in 1975, the UK did the same. Today, you can find the design almost anywhere. |
| But the design has often been criticised for stopping some old people getting at their prescriptions. | But the design has often been criticised for stopping some old people getting at their prescriptions. |
| "It is bad enough having to take the medicine in the first place, but to not be able to even get into the bottle is insult to injury," says Dominic Hargreaves, a British inventor. | "It is bad enough having to take the medicine in the first place, but to not be able to even get into the bottle is insult to injury," says Dominic Hargreaves, a British inventor. |
| "This is a design that is definitely in serious need of a redesign." | "This is a design that is definitely in serious need of a redesign." |
Three-point seat-belt | Three-point seat-belt |
| One invention that has proved hard to improve on is the classic three-point car seat-belt. | One invention that has proved hard to improve on is the classic three-point car seat-belt. |
| Volvo calls it "the most effective lifesaver in traffic for 50 years", and they have Nils Bohlin to thank for it. | Volvo calls it "the most effective lifesaver in traffic for 50 years", and they have Nils Bohlin to thank for it. |
| Today putting on a seatbelt is largely automatic, but in the 1950s - despite the increasing number of road deaths - car safety was a far less important issue. | Today putting on a seatbelt is largely automatic, but in the 1950s - despite the increasing number of road deaths - car safety was a far less important issue. |
| Volvo seized the initiative. Bohlin had been working for Saab, which had strong links with the aviation industry, when he was approached by Volvo to create a safety device for its cars. At the time, the Swedish engineer had been developing the catapult ejector seat. | Volvo seized the initiative. Bohlin had been working for Saab, which had strong links with the aviation industry, when he was approached by Volvo to create a safety device for its cars. At the time, the Swedish engineer had been developing the catapult ejector seat. |
| Bohlin set out to make an easy-to-use belt that drivers could put on with one hand. Since the three-point seat belt was introduced in 1959 in the Volvo Amazon, it is claimed to have prevented one million deaths worldwide. | Bohlin set out to make an easy-to-use belt that drivers could put on with one hand. Since the three-point seat belt was introduced in 1959 in the Volvo Amazon, it is claimed to have prevented one million deaths worldwide. |
| "Safety inventions actually come from necessity," says Woolf. "When we identify things that are unsafe, we try to make them safe." | "Safety inventions actually come from necessity," says Woolf. "When we identify things that are unsafe, we try to make them safe." |
| Here the problem was obvious - people being thrown forward and injured in car accidents. The category of solution involved - some form of restraining belt - might seem obvious to the modern driver. But the precise formulation, particularly one that remains essentially unchanged, is what earns the plaudits. | Here the problem was obvious - people being thrown forward and injured in car accidents. The category of solution involved - some form of restraining belt - might seem obvious to the modern driver. But the precise formulation, particularly one that remains essentially unchanged, is what earns the plaudits. |
| Volvo safety expert Thomas Broberg describes today's seatbelt technology as being "more intelligent" but says the principles are the same as Bohlin's initial design. | Volvo safety expert Thomas Broberg describes today's seatbelt technology as being "more intelligent" but says the principles are the same as Bohlin's initial design. |
| Broberg emphasises the importance of wearing a seat-belt at all times, particularly since other car safety technology, namely airbags, are contingent upon people having their seat belts on. | Broberg emphasises the importance of wearing a seat-belt at all times, particularly since other car safety technology, namely airbags, are contingent upon people having their seat belts on. |
| "It's the best life insurance you can get still in a car crash," Broberg says. | "It's the best life insurance you can get still in a car crash," Broberg says. |
| In an act of philanthropy, Volvo left the patent open to allow other car manufacturers to take advantage of the design. | In an act of philanthropy, Volvo left the patent open to allow other car manufacturers to take advantage of the design. |
Cat's eyes | Cat's eyes |
| Cat's eyes - the square glass and rubber objects set at frequent intervals down the middle of roads in many parts of the world have saved countless lives. | Cat's eyes - the square glass and rubber objects set at frequent intervals down the middle of roads in many parts of the world have saved countless lives. |
| But Percy Shaw - their inventor - could never have foreseen that he would have made night-time driving easier for millions of people, when the idea for a reflective device came to him after leaving the Dolphin public house one foggy night in 1933. | But Percy Shaw - their inventor - could never have foreseen that he would have made night-time driving easier for millions of people, when the idea for a reflective device came to him after leaving the Dolphin public house one foggy night in 1933. |
| The drive home to Halifax had him navigating dark roads. | The drive home to Halifax had him navigating dark roads. |
| The story goes that Shaw swerved his car - bringing him to a halt - when a pair of cat's eyes flashed before him. He later realised if he hadn't done so, he would have driven off the road. | The story goes that Shaw swerved his car - bringing him to a halt - when a pair of cat's eyes flashed before him. He later realised if he hadn't done so, he would have driven off the road. |
| As a result, Shaw, who was self-employed laying tarmac, developed the cat's eye - a name probably inspired by the feline that saved his own life. | As a result, Shaw, who was self-employed laying tarmac, developed the cat's eye - a name probably inspired by the feline that saved his own life. |
| In 1965, Shaw was awarded the OBE for his invention. | In 1965, Shaw was awarded the OBE for his invention. |
| Unlike other safety inventions, the simple cat's eye is lauded by many as a design classic. | Unlike other safety inventions, the simple cat's eye is lauded by many as a design classic. |
| In a nationwide poll 10 years ago, the invention - which really took off during World War II - came top of a list of 20th Century design favourites. | In a nationwide poll 10 years ago, the invention - which really took off during World War II - came top of a list of 20th Century design favourites. |
Kevlar | Kevlar |
| Kevlar - a super-strong synthetic fibre - is another good example of the unintended path that inventions can take. | Kevlar - a super-strong synthetic fibre - is another good example of the unintended path that inventions can take. |
| The original liquid solution - poly-paraphenylene terephtalamide - was discovered by chemist Stephanie Kwolek in 1965, when she was working for DuPont. | The original liquid solution - poly-paraphenylene terephtalamide - was discovered by chemist Stephanie Kwolek in 1965, when she was working for DuPont. |
| Little did she know that the fibre mixture originally intended to be used in tyres, would be used for dozens of life-saving products - particularly on the battlefield. | Little did she know that the fibre mixture originally intended to be used in tyres, would be used for dozens of life-saving products - particularly on the battlefield. |
| Every time a blast occurred near Neil Gussman while he was stationed with the US Army in Iraq, he was thankful for Kwolek's Kevlar in his helmet and his vest. | Every time a blast occurred near Neil Gussman while he was stationed with the US Army in Iraq, he was thankful for Kwolek's Kevlar in his helmet and his vest. |
| "It was hot and heavy, but we had rocket attacks and flew missions around the clock. We needed them," says Gussman. | "It was hot and heavy, but we had rocket attacks and flew missions around the clock. We needed them," says Gussman. |
| And once the original principle has been established - a fibre mix used to resist bullets - then it can be a jumping-off point for scientists looking for improvements. | And once the original principle has been established - a fibre mix used to resist bullets - then it can be a jumping-off point for scientists looking for improvements. |
| Kwolek has received more than 20 prestigious awards for her invention, and in the US a website dedicated to the Kevlar survivors lists the names of policemen whose lives have been saved thanks to the super-strong fibre. | Kwolek has received more than 20 prestigious awards for her invention, and in the US a website dedicated to the Kevlar survivors lists the names of policemen whose lives have been saved thanks to the super-strong fibre. |