The poorest of Alabama's poor have a problem that goes far past poverty but is closely related.
It's the growing death toll among black children from fires and burns. These are the leading cause of death for black children under age 5, killing 63 in Alabama and 2,217 nationwide during a 10-year period.
The greater the poverty level, the lower the level of safe housing, a combination that can lead to conditions that foster fires.
The International Association of Black Firefighters is working with the U.S. Fire Administration in this program to reduce the number of deaths. The Multicultural Fire Safety Campaign for Babies and Toddlers started Thursday and targets 20 states, including Alabama.
The campaign will provide educational materials, including videos and brochures, to fire departments and other groups in high-risk communities.
The campaign, however, only will be as good as the efforts to get these materials to those who need them.
People who live at these poverty levels many times do not have transportation available or the means to access these materials. The materials have to be delivered on a one-to-one basis for a successful program.
Churches also should be brought into the equation, with pastors using their influence to see the information is distributed in their church communities to those who need them.
Alabama, sad to say, remains at the top of the list in fire-related deaths of children.
The firefighters are to be commended for going past their appointed duties to reach out to their communities. If one child's life can be saved, their efforts will be repaid.
