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The Best Fire Prevention Tips For Seniors Living Alone

House fires are always dangerous. But they can be especially dangerous for seniors that are living alone. According to fire prevention experts seniors are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a house fire. That’s because they don’t have the rapid reflexes necessary to get out of a burning house quickly. And if the fire happens at night when seniors are sleeping there is a high risk they won’t be able to get out in time. One of the best ways to protect seniors from house fires is to have 24-hour home care services.

Because fires are so dangerous for seniors fire prevention is something that seniors and their families should make a priority. When seniors have 24-hour home care there is someone with them around the clock. If an emergency happens like a house fire seniors will have help to get out of the house quickly. And a caregiver may be able to stop fires before they start. Or put them out before they get out of control.

Other things that seniors can to do prevent house fires are:

Unplug Heat Generating Appliances

It’s recommended that all heat-generating appliances be unplugged when they’re not in use. Turning them off may not be enough. That means making sure that things like the toaster oven, the coffee pot, and the electric kettle are unplugged at night. A 24-hour home care provider can make it part of their routine to make sure that all the heat-generating appliances are unplugged before they go.

Put Appliances On Timers

It’s also a good idea to put appliances on timers. That way there is no risk of a fire starting when a senior parent leaves the coffee pot on or forgets to turn off the toaster oven. When an appliance is a timer it won’t matter if your senior parent forgets and leaves it on. Appliances can also be plugged into smart plugs. Family members can check on and control appliances through an app if they are plugged into smart plugs. That way you can check to be sure appliances are all off.

Clean The Lint Trap

It’s easy to forget to clean the lint trap on the dryer. But every time a load of laundry is done the lint trap needs to be cleaned out. And once or twice a year the pipe that vents outside should be cleaned out too. Lint can build up in there and overheat, causing a fire. Dryers are a very common cause of household fires.

24-Hour Home Care Nashville TN – The Best Fire Prevention Tips For Seniors Living Alone

Don’t Use Space Heaters

Another common cause of household fires are space heaters. Seniors really shouldn’t rely on space heaters for heat. When space heaters are left on, knocked over, or bumped into they could start a fire. Seniors who get cold easily and worry about drafts should switch to a gas or electric fireplace instead of a space heater. They are generally safer than space heaters, and they are very pretty and comforting to look at.

Sources: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2017/08/nist-study-suggests-frailty-makes-elderly-more-likely-die-home-fires
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/at-risk-audiences/older-adults/
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