Of all Americans, one of the greatest groups at risk for dying in a fire is people over the age of 65. There is an average of 1,000 elderly people that die in fires. People over the age of 85 are five times more likely to die in a fire than the rest of the population.
There are steps that people can take to prevent becoming a victim of a fire. What makes this group of individuals so vulnerable to injuries and death due to fire?
- Older people may not respond quickly enough in the presence of a fire to avoid injury and even death.
- Taking routine medications may impair their ability to make quick decisions in the presence of a fire.
- Suffering an injury while at home alone can delay emergency notification.
LISTED ARE FIRE HAZARDS THAT AFFECT OLDER AMERICANS
- Cooking accidents have been cited as the leading cause of fire related injuries for older Americans. Of all rooms in the home, the kitchen is deemed the most active and dangerous.
- The leading cause of fire deaths among older Americans is the improper use of smoking materials.
- Heating equipment in the homes of seniors is responsible for a large number of fires. Extreme cautions should be exercised when using alternative heating appliances such as space heaters and wood stoves.
- Old, cracked, frayed and faulty wiring is another cause of major fires affecting older Americans. Many older homes have outdated electrical wiring that affect electrical circuitry, receptacles and appliances that pose significant dangers.
SAFETY TIPS FOR OLDER AMERICANS
Kitchen Fire Safety – Most kitchen fires occur when food is left unattended on the stove. If for any reason you must leave the kitchen while cooking, as a reminder always take a hand towel, oven mitt or cooking spoon with you to remind you to return to the kitchen.
Avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking it will most likely ignite from the heat or flames and cause serious injury.
Always heat pans with cooking oil slowly and extra cautions should be used when deep frying. If you should encounter a cooking fire, immediately place a lid over the pan to quickly extinguish the fire. NEVER use water to extinguish a grease fire as it will always result in injury and possibly death.
Space heaters powered by electricity should not be used in the bathroom or in areas prone to water. Space heaters are referred to as such because they require space, and should be allotted a 36” circumference around any electrical heating appliance. Heaters should never be placed in close proximity to any combustible materials as they can easily ignite and start a fire.
Smoking materials improperly discarded have been known to claim the lives of many older Americans. If you smoke, be sure to use a non-combustible ash tray or extinguish the lighted cigarette into a container with water.
As always, having a working smoke alarm on each level of your home dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. Everyone in your household should be familiar with your family’s home escape plan and know exactly where to meet in your neighborhood.
With fire safety, prevention and the reduction of fire deaths being the pivotal point of the fire our mission, we have implemented “311 Smoke Alarm Initiative”. Baltimore residents can now contact the 311 Call Center to request a smoke alarm. Upon receiving a call from city residents, 311 Call Center Agents will complete a Smoke Alarm Installation Request form. The installation request form will be immediately forwarded to the Fire Communications Bureau. At that time, a fire suppression company will be dispatched to the respective resident’s home to install a ten year lithium tamper resistant the smoke alarm FREE OF CHARGE.
In an effort to improve this valuable service to the community, creating a more efficient process will increase the number of smoke alarm installations, increase home fire protection for hundreds of Baltimoreans and overall decrease the number of lives lost due to residential home fires without smoke alarms.
As a result of debilitating medical problems, many older Americans may not have the ability to easily get out of the house, so we urge all Baltimore City residents to take advantage of this necessary resource and get your home protected with a working smoke alarm by calling 311.