Press Release:  Fire Safety for Older Americans

If you are age 65 or older, you are your own best insurance against fire and burn injuries. Fire safety isn’t just for children. Because, like children, older Americans are at a greater risk of being injured or killed from fires or burn injuries than other adults, The Wilton Fire Department encourages you to take some time to look for and correct fire hazards around your home.

Make sure you have at least one working smoke detector on each level of your home. They should be tested once a month and the batteries should be changed twice a year.

Have an escape plan. Know two ways out of every room in case fire or smoke block one way out. Remember during a fire the breathable air is close to the floor, so crawl out low under smoke. Once you get out, stay out and call the fire department from a neighbor’s. Keep your glasses and a flashlight near your bed.

If you smoke or have smokers in your home, extra precautions should be taken. Each year, careless smoking is a major cause of fires. A lit cigarette that falls onto a bed or sofa can smolder for hours. You should never smoke in bed or while lying down. Make sure large deep ashtrays are used and that all smoking materials have been extinguished completely. Dispose of butts in a closed metal container or douse with water before emptying into a trashcan.

The kitchen is another area that can be very dangerous if certain precautions are not followed. Make sure your stove is clean and free of grease buildup. Keep flammables, such as towels and pot holders, away from the stove and oven. Turn pot handles away from the front of the stove so they won’t be knocked off or pulled down. If you are called away from the kitchen, turn all burners off. If you have a stove fire, put a lid on it, turn off the heat, and let it cool.

Many fires are caused by home heating. You should always have your heating system checked annually by a qualified professional. If you use portable heaters, make sure they have at least 3’ of clearance around them while in operation and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for their use.

Make sure you’ve insured your fire safety at home by knowing what to do in case of a fire. Contact the Wilton Fire Department if you have any questions or need more information.