Page 10 - Hawaii Renovation - Mar 13, 2022

10 HAWAII RENOVATION MARCH 13, 2022
Tips on fire safety in the home
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Fire safety is important for all ages, but it’s espe- cially crucial for seniors.
The more advanced in years, the higher the risk related to fire safety and evacuation.
From Jan. 1 to 31, adults age 50 and older accounted for approximately 50% of known age fire fatalities in the U.S., according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Older adults are at increased risk from home fire injury, by age 65 they are at 2.5 times the risk and by 85 at four times the risk as compared to the population at large.
To address this concern- ing trend, Kidde is sharing critical fire education to help older adults and their caretak- ers have confidence in their safety. Notably, older popu- lations are growing rapidly. According to AARP, 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. This also adds to an already robust U.S. popula- tion; reported by the National Institute on Aging, 39.5 million people are over 65 years of age, including 5.6 million peo-
ple at 85 plus. These statistics demonstrate the importance of this safety initiative.
Seniors are particularly at risk to home fire injuries due to a variety of factors like liv- ing independently as well as decreased mobility and other sensory functions. In fact, old- er Americans are more likely to live alone in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world, ac- cording to the Pew Research Center. When living alone, older adults may be unable to install and maintain smoke alarms. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 40% of people aged 65 and older have at least one disability, which could impede their ability to adequately maintain their home safety and secu- rity systems.
Additionally, in today’s home environment, where common items are made from synthetic materials, oc- cupants have as little as two minutes to escape. Escap- ing is even more critical with home fires burning eight times faster and producing 200 times more smoke than a
fire would have 50 years ago. Making sure seniors are effec- tively prepared and equipped to evacuate quickly can be lifesaving.
“Keeping older loved ones safe is a priority. We encour- age older adults and care- takers alike to take preven- tive steps, such as ensuring residences have sufficient alarm coverage and everyone in the home knows what to do in case of a fire or carbon monoxide emergency. These important and critical steps can save lives,” says Sharon Cooksey, fire safety educator for Kidde.
Kidde shares the following advice for older Americans and their caretakers:
KEEP ESCAPE ESSENTIALS CLOSE BY
Escaping quickly can be challenging for many older adults and according to the USFA, the majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping. Also, glasses, hear- ing aids, canes or wheelchairs should be kept close to the bed at night so they can be easily accessed in an emer- gency. In bedrooms, there should be a cell phone and charger nearby along with a local emergency number if anyone is ever trapped by smoke or fire. Keep a flash- light and whistle near the bed to signal for help.
USE FIRST FLOOR BEDROOMS
Bedrooms for seniors should be in a room on the ground floor to make an emergency escape easier.
CHECK ESCAPE ROUTES
In case of an emergency, doors and windows in the home should open easily, locks and pins should open from the inside. Know how to operate emergency release devices on any security bars on doors and windows, and
check that windows haven’t been nailed or sealed shut with paint. If they have, ar- range for someone to break the seals and remove nails.
CAUTION IN THE KITCHEN
Seniors are more likely to suffer injuries in kitchen fires compared to the rest of the population, according to the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency. Never leave cooking unattended and turn off all oven and burners once finished. Also, consider pro- gramming kitchen devices to automatically shut off appli- ances after a set period.
CONSIDER INTERCONNECTED ALARMS
Interconnected alarms “talk” — when one alarm in the group sounds, they all sound simultaneously. In- terconnected alarms pro- vide the earliest notification — additional escape time is especially important to some older adults. Bed shakers and strobe alarms are options for those with advanced hearing loss.
TEST ALARMS
Make sure alarms are in audible range, test alarms weekly — yes, weekly — and make sure all occupants can hear the test sounds in each room. If not, install more alarms to ensure coverage. At a minimum, alarms should be installed on every level of the home, in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area.
If you have questions or are unsure, local fire departments or your state fire marshal’s of- fice are great resources for free safety inspections. For more in-depth information on fire safety for seniors, visit kidde.com/seniorsafety.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.
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