HOME FIRE SAFETY TOOLKIT FOR OLDER ADULTS
USA and Canada.
“The National Center for Health Statistics found that adults 65 and older were
2.4 times as likely as the general population to die in fires. For those 85 and older, the risk was 3.6 times higher. Fires are more common during winter months, in part due to increased use of heating equipment.”
“Hundreds of people, especially seniors, die from unintentional exposure to carbon monoxide, and thousands more die in house fires where there were no working smoke alarms.”
The Home Fire Safety Toolkit for Older Adults toolkit provides fire safety tip sheets on major causes of home fires every year such as cooking, heating, and electrical equipment. Information is also provided on how to install smoke alarms and how to make an escape plan in the event of a fire disaster.
The Home Fire Safety Toolkit for Older Adults covers the following topics:
- Cooking and Kitchen Safety Tips for Older Adults.
- Home Heating Safety Tips for Older Adults - heating related fires are the second leading cause of fire deaths among older adults. Senior fire safety tips are provided for proper use of space heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces.
- Home Electrical Safety Tips for Older Adults - fire safety tips to identify and prevent electrical hazards.
- Fire Escape Planning for Older Adults – how to create a fire escape plan and consider aging related factors such as decreased mobility, hearing or eyesight.
- Smoke Alarm Safety Tips with Special Considerations for Older Adults – fire safety tips to ensure seniors are protected by working, properly installed smoke alarms. Age-related issues such as hearing loss may make it difficult for older adults to respond quickly to the sound of a standard smoke alarm. Additional smoke alarm safety warning devices should be considered in homes of older adults.
- Emergency Information Sheet - basic information that may be hard to recall during an emergency such as name, home address and phone number.
- Smoke Alarm Maintenance Calendar - annual smoke alarm maintenance reminders.
- Home Fire Safety Checklist for Older Adults – covering fire safety checks of the home smoke alarms, kitchens, electrical, witches and outlets, electrical cords, electrical panel, heating equipment and a fire escape plans.
Electrical Safety Foundation International aims to reduce electrically-related injuries, deaths and fires saving lives and property through public education and outreach.
Elderly Emergency Response
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