Every year there are more than 300,000 residential fires in the United States. Seniors who are living at home should pay extra attention to fire prevention because fires are particularly risky for seniors. One thing that seniors can do to prevent a house fire is to pay close attention when they’re cooking. Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires. Seniors who need help cooking meals should have 24-hour home care services. With 24-hour home care seniors will always have a care provider there to help them cook safely.
Seniors who are older than 65 are twice as likely as younger populations to die in a house fire. And the risk of dying in a residential fire increases every year after the age of 65.
Other common causes of home fires are:
- Candles
- Smoking
- Faulty Electrical Wiring
- Space Heaters (in the winter)
- Dryer And Appliance Fires
When seniors are cooking there are things they can do to prevent or put out small fires. Important safety tips that seniors should know if they’re going to cook meals at home are:
Keep A Fire Extinguisher In The Kitchen
Seniors should have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of the home. On the main floor, the fire extinguisher should be in the kitchen where it’s easily accessible. Periodically all fire extinguishers should be checked by the fire department to make sure they are still in good working order. Seniors may want to practice pulling the pin so they will be familiar with how it works if they need to use it.
Never Put Water On A Grease Fire
Small grease fires can happen when seniors are frying things or cooking meals on the stovetop. If a grease fire occurs seniors should use the pot lid to try and smother the fire. If that doesn’t work seniors should pour baking soda on the flames. It’s a good idea to keep a box of baking soda right next to the stove for this purpose. If that doesn’t work then use the fire extinguisher. Never put water on a grease fire. Water will cause a grease fire to flare up even stronger and could cause a full house fire.
Invest In Smart Plugs Or Smart Appliances
A smart way for seniors to avoid kitchen fires is to invest in smart appliances or smart plugs. Smart appliances can be turned off with voice commands or through an app on a smartphone. But ordinary appliances can be turned into smart appliances by plugging them into a smart plug. Then plug the smart plug into the wall. Once that’s done appliances like coffee makers or toaster ovens can be turned off with voice commands or through an app.
If a senior forgets to turn off the coffee pot or another appliance they can turn it off with a voice command or use an app. Smart plugs also allow appliances to be programmed to turn off at a set time.
When In Doubt, Just Get Out
Seniors should never take a chance when it comes to house fires. If a small fire occurs seniors should just get out as quickly as possible if they don’t feel confident using a fire extinguisher or they aren’t sure how to put out the flames.
Sources: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Specific-groups-at-risk/Older-adults
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/deaths-injuries/older-adults.html
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/residential-fires/