Our older folks need to know what to do in case of a home fire more than younger adults, especially people at age 65. They are more prone to be seriously hurt, or worse, get killed in a fire compared to younger people. Therefore, it is crucial to take the necessary precautionary measures to keep them safe at home.  

1. Let older people live on the ground floor as much as possible.

Consider them sleeping in a room on the first floor if you don’t reside in an apartment to make escape in an emergency easier. A SMOKE ALARM should be installed outside all sleeping areas and in every sleeping room. Install a phone where they sleep so they can use it in an emergency. Look for a building with an AUTOMATED SPRINKLER SYSTEM when searching for an apartment or high-rise residence, as sprinklers can put out a residential fire in less time than it takes for the fire responders to arrive.

2. Have a smoke alarm installed at home.

The majority of deadly fires occur when people are asleep, and because smoke can lull you into a deep slumber, rather than waking you, it is crucial to have an EARLY FIRE WARNING SYSTEM to make sure that you wake up before the fire gets worse. If someone in your household has a hearing impairment, consider installing a SMOKE ALARM that employs a flashing light or vibration to alert you to a fire emergency.

3. Do routine fire drills at home.

Routinely conduct your own regular FIRE DRILLS and take part in them to be prepared in the event of a home fire. If you or someone you live with is unable to flee alone, choose a household member to assist and make backup plans in case you as the assigned person in charge are not available. Fire drills are a good opportunity to make sure that everyone is able to hear and respond to SMOKE ALARMS.  

4. Make windows and doors accessible.

Make sure they can access all of your home’s windows and doors. Pins and locks should be simple to open from the inside. If you have security bars on doors or windows, they should have emergency release devices inside so that they may be released easily. Note that some apartment and high-rise buildings have windows designed not to open. Although they won’t put your safety at risk, these gadgets will let you open the window from the inside in the event of a fire. Make sure that no windows have been sealed or nailed shut because if they have, assign someone to properly remove the seals or nails.

5. Make sure to always stay connected.

Always keep a PHONE or COMMUNICATION LINES accessible along with the EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBERS so that if they get trapped in their room by fire or smoke, they can easily call for help or communicate with the EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS.

We should bear in mind that with a growing number of older adults living independently, it’s increasingly important to make sure that they’re safe at home at all times.