Everyone knows there are hazards associated with growing older, like osteoporosis and vision loss, but home fires are an even bigger danger. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, seniors ages 80-84 have the highest fire death rate in the country, and those over age 85 have the highest fire injury rate. Getting older can bring some challenges. Our bodies may not move as quickly, and we might not think as fast. That’s why we need to be extra careful about fires and falls. These are some of the main reasons older adults get hurt.

But don’t worry, there are ways we can prevent these accidents and stay safe.

Follow these fire safety tips especially geared towards seniors and reduce your risk of fire:

1. Keep extra copies of assistive items like canes and glasses near the bed. If there’s a fire, precious seconds wasted looking for a cane can be the difference between life and death. Wheelchairs should be parked within arm’s reach.
2. Don’t cook if you’re sleepy or drowsy from medication. You might think you’ll only close your eyes for a minute, but a minute is all it takes for something to catch fire and spread. If you’re tired, a sandwich or a bowl of cereal are quick, filling, no-cook options. When you do cook, use a timer to remind you to check the oven or cooktop.
3. Never, ever smoke around oxygen tanks. Fires require oxygen to burn, so even candles can be dangerous. Having a lit cigarette inches from a tank is a dangerous fire waiting to happen.
4. If you live in a house, move the bedroom to the ground floor. Not only will your knees thank you every night, but escaping a fire is as easy as walking out a door or climbing out a window, at worst. Neighbors can easily help, so there’s no need to wait for rescue personnel, reducing the chance of injury or death.
5. Use a special fire alarm that uses flashing lights along with the alarm if you or someone else is hard of hearing. A fire is no time to be vain and deny hearing problems. Never assume that you’ll smell the smoke or that the alarm will “probably” wake you up. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Additional Fall Prevention Tips

1. Keep the Home Safe: Let’s look around our home for things that might make us trip or fall. Loose rugs, slippery floors, and uneven surfaces can be risky. We should remove them or make them secure. Adding handrails on stairs and grab bars in the bathroom can also help us move around safely.
2. Light It Up: Darkness can be tricky, so let’s make sure all areas of our home are well-lit, especially the hallways and stairs. Motion-sensor lights are great because they turn on automatically when we walk by.
3. Stay Active and Strong: Exercise is essential! It helps us keep our balance, strength, and flexibility. By staying active, we reduce the chance of falling.
4. Ask About Medicines: Some medicines can make us feel dizzy or unsteady. If we’re unsure about our medications, it’s good to talk to our doctor.
5. Get Help: If you and your loved one do not know how to organize your home to prevent falls, you should get help from a professional home care agency.

If your home or business suffers smoke, water, or fire damage, call RestorationMaster as soon as the fire department leaves. They’ll immediately start working to limit the damage so you can start to get your life back together. They have advanced training in fire, smoke, and water damage restoration to bring back your damaged home, possessions, and furniture. They can restore marble, aluminum, brass, carpeting, upholstery and many more household surfaces.

The cost of fire restoration depends on the extent of the damage and the size of the property. The national average cost in 2023 was $12,900.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.