When we think of fire prevention for the elderly, we should take several factors into consideration. It is not a good idea to give them gifts of scented candles, nor should we present them with electric blankets for warmth in winter.
Older people tend to be forgetful and may not remember to blow out the candle, and electric blankets have been the cause of many fires. There are many reasons why fire kills a good number of our older generation, but their reduced capacity to detect and escape fire is a major cause.
Other reasons could be hearing and visual impairment, effect of medications, and lack of mobility. In addition, many older people turn to portable heaters to stay warm in winter, and these have caused numerous house fires. Also, the elderly may not have a smoke detector in their home, or they may forget to test it to make sure the battery is not low.
Elderly fire victims are less likely to have alcohol in their systems or to be smokers than younger people. Significantly more fires that kill elderly people are due to faulty or misused electrical items, particularly electric blankets.
Other factors of fire-related deaths among the elderly are social isolation, dementia, and some degree of disability. Also, slower processing of data by the brain and the fact that they are more easily disoriented. All these factors make them a high-risk group in an emergency situation.
We should all make sure that our elderly loved ones are not at great risk for fire-related deaths. We should check their homes for lit candles, electric blankets, and portable heaters. We should also install smoke detectors and check them periodically.
Depending on their mental capacity, it would be a good idea to talk with them about the fire dangers mentioned above. However, for those with dementia, we should just take it upon ourselves to make sure their homes are as safe as possible.
Fire prevention for the elderly is not something we think about often, but you know what they say, "An ounce of prevention..."
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