Fire Safety for Senior Citizens: Smoking, Alcohol, Medication, and Living Alone Are Leading Risk Factors of Being Injured in a Fire.

Americans over the age of 65 are one of the groups at greatest risk of perishing in a fire. Seniors over the age of 85 die at a rate of five times higher than the general population. However, the number of these deaths can be greatly reduced if certain precautions are taken.

Fire presents a great risk to the elderly. Their physical reaction times may be slowed. Their senses of sight, hearing, and smell may be reduced. They may be disoriented or drowsy because of the medication they take. If a fire starts, they need more time or maybe they need assistance from others in order to escape.

Smoking, cooking, electrical and heating systems, as well as the operation of appliances, all pose dangers to seniors. The Consumer Product Safety Council also estimates that 83% of deaths resulting from sleepwear fires involve people over 65.

The leading cause of fire fatalities is started by the use of smoking materials.....matches, lighters and cigarettes.

Falling asleep while smoking, is the most common cause of serious burns to the elderly, and often results in fatalities. Many seniors still enjoy smoking. The older smoker may be tired, fatigued, and often under the influence of medication or alcohol. He or she sits down in a comfortable upholstered chair, lights a cigarette and turns on the TV. Soon, he or she may fall asleep.

The cigarette falls from their hand. It may fall into their lap, the chair or the rug. The cigarette may have been placed in an ashtray on the arm of the chair. When the smoker falls asleep, he knocks over the ashtray without ever waking up.

The cigarette will continue to burn and will ignite the fabric and other materials used in upholstered furniture. Undetected, it can continue to burn for hours before a flare-up occurs and ignites other combustibles such as newspapers, clothing the rug or draperies

Drinking and Medication: