According to the United States Fire Administration, older adults are twice as likely to suffer severe injury or death during a house fire. Teresa Neal from the United States Fire Administration sat down with the Texas Department of Insurance to discuss fire safety and keeping older people safe from risks. Currently, older adults over eighty-five have the highest fire death rate in the United States.
The elderly are more prone to having limited mobility, the inability to hear smoke alarms, medications that may affect their reaction time, or complacency. Older adults who have lived in the home for an extended time are sometimes shocked and confused when a fire breaks out, costing precious time needed to escape.
“It is important to have working smoke alarms on every level of the home, even the basement,” says Neal. “Have smoke alarms on the outside and inside of sleeping areas and interconnect them so when one alarm goes off, every alarm in the home will sound. It is important to test your smoke alarms each month and have an escape plan,” Neal suggests, “and for older adults who suffer from limited mobility, it is best to keep wheelchairs, canes, or walkers close by beds so they will be within reach.”
She added that people should keep eyeglasses and a telephone at the bedside so if a fire erupts, they can dial 9-1-1.
“Grab your phone, dial 9-1-1, and let the operator know you cannot get out. If you can get out, grab your phone on the way out of the home so you can call 9-1-1 once you are outside,” says Neal.
As the winter months continue, many people use space heaters and fireplaces to keep warm, but risks are involved. Also, there should be three feet of space between the heater and anything flammable when using space heaters.
When using a fireplace, be sure you use a mesh or glass barrier to keep any sparks from flying off the fire and igniting something. Cleaning a fireplace should also be done with care. Many people often put ashes from a fire into a trash bag, but there could be embers that have not cooled, running the risk of catching the bag on fire.
Neal says the best way to dispose of fireplace ashes is to dispose of them in a metal container and place them ten feet away from your home.
While smoking tobacco outside is the advised option, most people would rather smoke in the comfort of their own homes during the winter months. With that in mind, never smoke in bed while drowsy, under the influence of alcohol, or on medication. When extinguishing your cigar or cigarette, use a sturdy ashtray and wet the butts before disposing of them.
If someone is in your home or around someone who uses medical oxygen, it is essential to never smoke in the house. Neal warns that the excess oxygen gets absorbed in clothes, furniture, and other soft surfaces. If a spark or hot ash ignites a surface, the oxygen will feed the fire and cause it to spread quickly.
We all can learn from being safe while cooking in the kitchen. It is tempting to watch television, scroll on your phone or walk out of the kitchen for “just a second,” but that second could turn into a dangerous situation.
Neal says things to remember while cooking is never leaving the kitchen, especially when frying, grilling, or cooking at high temperatures. Grease and oils burn quickly, so you never want to leave them unattended. If you are baking or broiling, be sure to set a timer. While cooking over the stove or a grill, be sure to wear short or tight-fitting sleeves that will not brush up against a hot pan or flame, causing a fire.
Turn pot and pan handles inward and toward the back of the stove to avoid them being knocked over or grabbed. Neal says if a pan does catch on fire, never move the pan, or throw water on the fire. She says the best way to extinguish the fire is to cover the pan with a lid or cookie sheet.
Fire safety is vital for everyone, and it takes a small amount of time to make sure older friends and family are taking the proper precautions to keep them safe from a fire emergency. For more fire safety tips, go to USFA.FEMA.Gov, and if you have questions about your home or renter insurance, visit tdi.texas.gov or call 1-800-252-3439.
