Fire Safety

• Aging increases the risk of fire because:– People become less able to respond due to

hearing, vision, mobility– Sense of touch and smell can become impaired– Older adults are more likely to smoke

• Seniors over 84 are five times more likely to die in a fire than the general population

Preventing Fires

What You Can Do

Make sure your parent never smokes in bedRemove any space heaters in the house, particularly those that don’t automatically shut off when tippedMake sure there is a large fire screen in front of any fireplaces that are usedEnsure that there is a clear path for exiting the home

How We Can Help

Identify and remove fire hazards in your parent’s homeInstall smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that are sure to wake them in the event of a fireCheck all batteries in smoke detectors twice a yearInstall stovetop fire protectionEnsure your parents have fire extinguishers they can usePut extra precautions in place for smokers