Posts Tagged ‘strike anywhere matches’

Fire is an element that is as important as food is to man. It’s a source of both heat and light and, given that humans need to cook their food, fire has become a necessity. Due to this need, man’s ingenuity has given birth to a lot of inventions, one of which is the match.

A match is a tool usually made out of a wooden stick and a combustible head that allows people to light a fire in controlled or specific instances. The product works by friction or the application of friction to its head against a corresponding surface. Matches have 2 main types – the safety matches and strike anywhere matches.

Safety matches are those whose heads can only be struck against a specialty designed or prepared surface. Strike anywhere matches, as the name suggest, are matches that can be lit up by application of friction against any rough surface.

Safety matches were invented in 1844. They were called safety matches due to the separate and specially prepared striking surface. Since a separate and uniquely designed surface is needed to ignite the match head, accidents are less likely to occur compared to the strike anywhere matches.

Strike anywhere matches can ignite or start a fire when rubbed or stroke against any surface, which means fire can easily be created. Remember the famous Marlboro TV commercial wherein the cowboy strikes his match under his boots and then uses it to light up his cigarette? That’s how easy to use strike anywhere matches can be, which means if fallen to the hands of children, could lead to disastrous consequences.

It is therefore understandable why both types of matches are classified as dangerous goods. Although both types are considered as such, safety matches are not totally prohibited in an aircraft, unlike the strike anywhere matches. Strike anywhere matches can create fire more instantly, so they are illegal on both the cargo-only and passenger aircrafts.

Aside from going for the safety matches, parents and guardians must keep such flammable objects away from the children’s reach. It should be locked away in a safe and unreachable place. Precautions are they key towards accident prevention.