the fire h.e.l.p. tool kit: an evidence-based approach to ...€¦ · the fire h.e.l.p. tool kit:...
TRANSCRIPT
TM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
The Fire H.E.L.P. tool kit:
An evidence-based approach to
protecting the homebound elderly
The Fire H.E.L.P. tool kit:
An evidence-based approach to
protecting the homebound elderly
April 21, 2008
Michele Huitric, MPH
TM
Fire-related Injury and DeathFire-related Injury and Death
� Fires rank 5th in the cause of
unintentional injury deaths in
the United States
� Smoke alarms decrease the
chances of dying in a house fire
by up to 50 percent
– One-quarter of U.S.
households lack working
smoke alarms
TM
Fire-related Injury and Death in Older AdultsFire-related Injury and Death in Older Adults
� Older adults are:
– 3 times more likely to die in fires than younger adults
– 2 times more likely to die in fires than children
� The death rate for older adults increases with age
– By the age of 85, their death rate is >4 times the national average
TM
� Smoking is the
leading cause of fire
death among older
adults
� Cooking is the
leading cause of fire
injury among older
adults
Fire-related Injury and Death in Older AdultsFire-related Injury and Death in Older Adults
TM
– Living alone
– Physical and mental
disabilities
– Reduced sensory
abilities
– Alcohol use
– Medication that
makes them drowsy
– Substandard housing
Fire-Related Risk Factors for Older AdultsFire-Related Risk Factors for Older Adults
TM
CDC and Fire SafetyCDC and Fire Safety
� Smoke Alarm Installation and Fire-safety
Education (SAIFE) program
– Reach high-risk communities and groups
across the United States (including adults
ages 65 years and older)
�195,868 homes enrolled
�348,541 smoke alarms installed
�1,589 lives potentially have been saved
TM
Components of Successful Fire Safety
Programs
Components of Successful Fire Safety
Programs
– Deliver program activities in home settings
– Deliver fire safety education with a core set of
messages
� allow for variability depending on the circumstances
in each home
– Partner with fire departments
� dedicated individuals working to serve their
communities who the public associates with fire
safety
� respected members of their communities which can
help them gain access to homes
TM
New PartnershipNew Partnership
� "The mission of Meals On Wheels Association of America is to provide visionary leadership and professional training and to develop partnerships that will ensure the provision of quality nutrition services."
TM
MOW’s Unique Position to HelpMOW’s Unique Position to Help
� MOW staff and volunteers enter
homes of clients on a regular
basis
� MOW staff and volunteers have
trusting relationships with their
clients
� Clients see MOW as a known
and trusted source of
information
TM
Residential Fire Homebound Elderly
Lifeline Project (Fire H.E.L.P.)
Residential Fire Homebound Elderly
Lifeline Project (Fire H.E.L.P.)
� To reduce fire-related injuries and loss of life and property among homebound older adults
– Home assessment and fire safety education
– Smoke alarm installation and testing
TM
Fire H.E.L.P. ImplementationFire H.E.L.P. Implementation
Step 1: MOW staff attend Training-of-Trainers
Step 2: MOW staff train their staff and/or volunteers
Step 3: Staff and/or volunteers conduct home assessments
and provide client education
Step 4: Referrals made to fire department for
those clients who are eligible for free alarms
Step 5: Alarms installed
Step 6: MOW staff or volunteers test alarms
TM
Fire H.E.L.P. Tool Kit DevelopmentFire H.E.L.P. Tool Kit Development
� Environmental scan
� Audience analysis
� Partnership team
TM
Home AssessmentHome Assessment
� Smoke alarms with long-
life lithium batteries
– Every level of the home
– Outside of every
sleeping area
– Inside every sleep room
TM
Client EducationClient Education
� Discuss with all clients:
– Smoke alarms
– Escape plans
� Discuss depending on risk
factors:
– Smoking
– Cooking
– Alternative heating
sources (such as space
heaters)
TM
Client EducationClient Education
� Mandatory leave-behind
materials
– Smoke alarms and escape
planning flyer
– Risk factors flyer
� Smoking
� Cooking
� Alternative heating
sources
TM
Client EducationClient Education
� Optional leave-behind materials
– Emergency number card
– Phone sticker
– Refrigerator magnet/card
TM
Client EducationClient Education
� Optional MOW materials
– Clipboard stickers
– Pocket reminder card
– Fire department letter
– Meal stickers
TM
Training CurriculaTraining Curricula
� 4-hour training on
home assessments
and client education
� 2-hour training on
client education
TM
Pilot StudyPilot Study
� 5,000 smoke alarms installed throughout Texas:
– Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County Inc., Fort Worth
– Christian Senior Services, San Antonio
– Meals On Wheels of Abilene, Abilene
– Meals for the Elderly, San Angelo
– Meals On Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties, Cleburne
TM
Training of TrainersTraining of Trainers
� Representatives from five pilot
sites learn:
– Overview of project
– How to conduct home
assessments and client
education
– How to conduct trainings for
their own staff/volunteers
� Revision of materials based on
their feedback
TM
Pilot Study ResultsPilot Study Results
� MOWAA pilot study
– 673 clients educated
and homes assessed
– 1,135 alarms installed
TM
Next StepsNext Steps
� MOWAA
– Potentially expand Fire
H.E.L.P. throughout
Texas and the Nation
� CDC
– Develop generic CDC
version of tool kit
