[INSERT DATE][INSERT CITY AND STATE]

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Training on Fire Safety Education

Session 12

Introduction to the Fire Safe Seniors Program

Introductions

Please tell us:

• Your name

• Your chapter/affiliate

or site

• Your role in the fire

safety program

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Training Objectives4

By the end of this training, participants will have:• Reviewed statistics about older adults and fires• Learned how to educate seniors about fire safety• Discussed next steps for implementing education

Fire Safe Seniors Program Overview

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Developed by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)

Program Goal:“To reduce the injuries and loss of life and property due to fire and fire-related hazards”

Fire Safe Seniors Components 6

1. Home assessments to determine the need for smoke alarms

2. Free smoke alarm installation for eligible residents

3. Education of older adults and/or their caretakers about fire prevention and response

4. Follow-up to assess program effectiveness

Program Eligibility 7

To be eligible for free smoke alarms, residents must:

Be 65 years of age and older Live in a residential setting (house or

apartment).

Those not eligible may still receive education about fire prevention and response.

U.S. Fire Injury and Death

Fires are a leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States.

More than half of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.

Many deaths occur in homes where smoke alarms are present but fail to operate due to missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.

Most victims die from inhaling smoke or toxic gases, not from burns.

Home fire deaths are more likely to occur in winter months.

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Death Rates of Older Adults

Older adults are 3x more likely to die in fires than younger adults.

They are >2x more likely to die in fires than children ages 1 to 4 years.

The death rate for older adults increases with age.

By age 85, older adults have death rates 4x the overall U.S. rate.

 

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Fire Injury and Death in Older Adults

Smoking is the leading cause of fire death among older adults.

Cooking is the leading cause of fire injury among older adults.

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Fire-Related Risk Factors for Older Adults

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May include:Living alone Physical and mental disabilities Reduced sensory abilitiesAlcohol useMedication that makes them drowsy Substandard housing

Our Organization’s Unique Position to Help

Our staff and volunteers enter homes of seniors on a regular basis.

Our staff and volunteers have trusting relationships with seniors.

Seniors see us as a known and trusted source of information.

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Session 213

Education about Fire Safety

Session Objectives14

By the end of this session, participants will have:• Examined and tested a Fire Safe Seniors

smoke alarm• Learned how to use the fire safety

education tool • Reviewed the leave-behind materials for

residents• Role-played an education session

Education Overview15

All older adult residents should receive education.

May take place immediately after home assessment or at another time.

Education tool guides the discussion. Leave behind materials for residents to read

later.A caregiver should be present if resident has

a mental impairment.

Education Tool Sections16

Top section: Information about resident

Discussion: Discussion opener Questions and messages Discussion closer

Materials tracking

Top Section17

DateResident’s nameResident’s date of birthAddressPhone numberYour name (educator)

Educational Message Topics18

Discuss with ALL residents:Smoke alarmsEscape planning

Discuss depending on risk factors: Smoking CookingAlternative heating sources

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Messages for Discussion with ALL Residents

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SMOKE ALARMS

For residents who already have alarms or will get them soon:

Main message: Test smoke alarms every month; you can ask someone to test them for you.

Message #2: Never disable your smoke alarm.

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Messages for Discussion with ALL Residents (cont’d)

SMOKE ALARMS

For residents who do not have alarms (and are not eligible to receive them)

Main message: A smoke alarm warns you when it senses smoke in your home. Put smoke alarms in your home and test them each month.

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Messages for Discussionwith ALL Residents

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ESCAPE PLANNING

Main message: Identify two ways out of every room.

Message #2: Plan your escape around your abilities.

Message #3: Keep a phone and emergency numbers to call for help near your bed.

Message #4: If a fire starts, get out and stay out.

Message #5: If you cannot get out, get as low to the ground as you can.

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Messages for Discussion According to

Risk Factors

SMOKING

Main message: Never smoke when you are lying down, drowsy, or in bed.

Message #2: Use large, deep, tip-resistant ashtrays, and place them on a flat surface.

Message #3: Wet cigarette butts and ashes before emptying them into the trash.

Message #4: Smoke outside, if possible.Message #5: Do not smoke near oxygen

tanks.

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Messages for Discussion According to Risk Factors

COOKING

Main message: Keep an eye on what you fry. Most cooking fires start when someone is frying food.

Message #2: Wear short sleeves or roll them up so they don’t catch fire.

Message #3: Move things that can burn away from the stove.

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Messages for Discussion According to Risk Factors

SPACE HEATERS

Main message: Keep space heaters 3 feet from anything that can burn, including you.

Message #2: Unplug heaters when you shut them off, leave your home, or go to bed.

Message #3: Consider getting space heaters that automatically turn off if they tip over.

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Messages for Discussion According to Risk Factors

FIREPLACE, WOOD OR COAL STOVE

Main message: Have a professional clean and inspect your fireplace, wood stove, or coal stove once a year.

Message #2: Do not burn green wood, artificial logs, boxes, or trash.

Message #3: Use a metal mesh fireplace screen to keep sparks inside. If your fireplace has glass doors, leave them open while burning a fire.

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Main vs. Secondary Messages

Main message – most important Underlined in each topic Say verbatim

Secondary messages Discuss only if resident is alert and can

absorb more information

Discussion Guidelines27

In most cases, discuss maximum of 3 topics:-Smoke alarms-Escape planning-One risk factor message (if applicable)

Check understanding after each topic.Do not scold residents who are doing

something that puts them at risk.

Education Steps 28

Step 1: Open the discussion.

“I would like to talk to you today about keeping safe from fires in your home. Many older adults are injured or die each year because of home fires. This may be because they have a harder time moving quickly or their hearing and eyesight may not be as sharp as they used to be. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to spend a few minutes discussing how you can prevent fires and what you can do in case of a fire. How does that sound?”

Education Steps (cont’d)29

Step 2: Note information on top of form.

Step 3: Discuss smoke alarm messages and demonstrate how to test existing alarms. Only discuss main message if resident has a limited attention span.

Education Steps (cont’d) 30

Step 4: Discuss escape planning messages.

Step 5: Ask risk factor questions in order they are presented. Discuss only one risk factor topic with residents who have limited attention spans.

Step 6: Explain materials you are leaving behind.

Education Steps (cont’d)

Step 7: Note quantities of materials left behind on second page of the tool.

Step 8: Ask if resident has any questions.

Step 9: Thank resident for his/her time and end visit.

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Leave-Behind Materials

Flyers (for all residents) – small and large print Smoke alarms and escape planning flyer Fire risk factor flyer

Other materials (optional) Emergency number card Phone sticker Refrigerator magnet/card

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Materials for Staff and Volunteers

Clipboard sticker

Pocket reminder card

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Smoke Alarm Examination and Testing

Before testing alarm, tell resident that alarm will make a loud sound

Press test button and check that device beeps loudly. May need to hold button down for a few seconds.

Do not press button too hard.

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Education Role Plays35

Divide into pairs/trios and read assigned scenario.

One person plays the resident, and the other plays the educator (in trios, the third person plays the family member).

Each group has 15 min. to practice role plays.

The educator should use the education tool and other materials.

Remember to say all messages verbatim!

Role Play #136

Mr. Roberts is 70 years of age and uses hearing aids. He will be getting three free smoke alarms from your program. He lives by himself in a small house, and his son comes to check on him once a day. He uses the stove to heat up soup and make oatmeal on the weekends. He also uses a wood stove to stay warm in the winter. He does not smoke, and he can get around the house by using a cane. He has a limited attention span.

Role Play #2

Mrs. Paulson is 80 years old. She has a mild case of dementia and lives with her daughter, Nelly, in a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor. They will not be getting any free smoke alarms because their apartment building will not allow outside agencies to install alarms. They only have one smoke alarm in their living room, but it works. Mrs. Paulson likes to smoke a few cigarettes every day. Her apartment is well heated, so she does not use a space heater. She does not use the stove, but her daughter uses it. Mrs. Paulson has trouble walking on her own, and she spends most of the day on the couch watching television. Nelly is present during the education session. Nelly is very alert and is willing to discuss a lot of information.

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Session 5

Next Steps, Training Closure, and Evaluation

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Session Objectives39

By the end of this session, participants will have:• Discussed next steps for conducting

education sessions• Filled out posttest form • Filled out evaluation form

Next Steps

When education will startHow you will receive names of older adultsWhat to do with completed formsHow they will learn whether or not older

adults will be receiving free alarmsWhere to get copies of tools and materialsAssistance that staff will be providing Staff contact information

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Questions or Comments?41

Trainers’ Contact Information42

First Trainer’s NameE-mail

Phone Number

Second Trainer’s NameE-mail

Phone Number