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People ages 65 and older face a dramatically increased risk of dying in a home fire. Each year, approximately 1,100 Americans ages 65 and older die as a result of home fires. Smoking, heating and cooking are the primary causes for most of these fire deaths.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), adults between 65 and 74 face twice the risk of dying in a home fire as the rest of the U.S. population. That number increases to four times for people between 75 and 84 and to more than five times for people ages 85 and older.
Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths for older Americans. Heating is the second leading cause of fire death. There are more home fires during December, January and February than at any other time of the year. Space heaters and wood stoves can be particularly dangerous.
Cooking ranks third as a cause of fire deaths for those 65 and over. The kitchen can be one of the most hazardous rooms in the house.
The USFA, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, offers the following tips:
● Never smoke in bed.
● Put your cigarette out at the first sign of drowsiness while watching TV or reading.
● Use deep ashtrays. Put your cigarettes all the way out.
● Don’t walk away from lit cigarettes or other smoking materials.
● Never leave cooking unattended.
● Always wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames.
● Never use the range or oven to heat your home.
● Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house.
● Keep fire in the fireplace by making sure you have a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
● Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from heaters.
● When buying a space heater, look for a control feature that automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over.
“Prevent Fire. Save Lives. A Fire Safety Campaign for People 50-Plus”
he/11-07-05
WVU Fire Service Extension
PO Box 6610
Morgantown, WV 26506-6610
1-866-WVU-FIRE
