Senior citizens have a higher risk of death or injury from a fire than younger individuals. However, there are important safety precautions from the United Sates Fire Administration that can dramatically decrease your risk of injury or death because of a fire.
- Check your smoke detectors regularly to ensure they are in working condition. You should have a detector on every floor of your home, as well as inside and around each bedroom.
- Be sure to set the alarm to loud enough that it will wake you if you are sleeping. This is especially important for anyone with hearing aids that are removed at night. Test your alarms to ensure you can hear them even without your hearing devices.
- Plan your easiest escape route. Be sure to have your wheelchair, cane, walker, or any other walking aids nearby while you rest.
- Be aware of how close your heaters are from objects that can burn. Keep heaters at a safe distance of at least 3 feet from anything that can burn including curtains, furniture, bed sheets, etc.
- Remember that using medical oxygen creates a higher risk of fires and burns, so it is important to take necessary precautions. Don't ever smoke inside a home where medical oxygen is being used. Do not use a fireplace, stove, or anything else powered by gas, kerosene, wood, or coal. Any petroleum-based products should be kept far from oxygen valves.
For extra safety tips, check out this article from the USFA.
