Risk increases with age
People over the age of 70 have a four to five times higher risk of dying in fires than the rest of the population. At the same time, there are more elderly people and they are living at home longer than before. Good fire preparedness saves lives and it is often not that much that is needed.
Have the talk
A chat about fire hazards in the home and simple fire prevention measures can make the difference between life and death. Here are some topics you may want to talk about. We have also made a checklist with simple measures you as a relative can take after the chat.
Beware of the stove
The stove is by far the biggest cause of house fires. It's easy to forget or fall asleep from a pot on the hob. Talk about the importance of being present when cooking.
Which situations pose the greatest risk? Maybe there are alternatives to using the stove? Also check if a stove guard is installed. A stove guard cuts off the power to the stove if a plate gets too hot. It prevents dry cooking, overheating and other dangerous situations that can lead to fire.
Also read: What you should know about stove guard
Potholders, tea towels, newspapers and other things that are stored around the stove can quickly catch fire and cause the flames to spread quickly. Flames that hit a cooker hood full of grease spread even faster. Have a chat about tidying and cleaning around the stove.
Is there a need for other storage solutions as an alternative to using the stove as storage space? It may be an idea for family and relatives to take turns checking the cooker hood and cleaning it if necessary.
Check electrical products
The stove represent high risk, but other electrical products can also case a fire if used incorrectly. Check with the resident what habits he or she has regarding the use of electric heaters and other electrical products. Panel heaters and radiant heaters that are covered or dusted can easily catch fire.
Appliances that use a lot of power (over 1000 watts) should not be connected with an extension cord. This can cause overload on the extension cord, which becomes too hot and can start a fire.
Listen for the smoke detector
Early warning increases the chance of getting out in time. Make sure the home has smoke detectors that work. Test that the residents can hear the notification - also from the bedroom. Also remember to test the smoke detector once a month, and change the battery once a year. If the resident does not hear the smoke detector, check with the Assistive Technology Centre about the possibility of borrowing equipment such as smoke detectors with lights or vibrations.
Also have a talk about how to get out if the smoke detector goes off. Make sure that the escape routes are not blocked by furniture, carpets, or other obstructions. It may also be a good idea to carry out a fire drill – practice makes perfect, also when it comes to evacuation.
Test lift the extinguishing equipment
What do you do when you discover a fire? It may be a good idea to have thought and talked it through. Make sure that the home has extinguishing equipment that the resident can use. All homes must have extinguishing equipment in the form of a house fire hose or fire extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher is too heavy, you may want to have a fire blanket or extinguishing spray as well. However, remember that the most important thing is to get out in time.
Avoid open flames
There are many candle cuffs and decorations with candles, but it doesn't take much for there to be a small fire. Talk about the dangers of using candles, especially when combined with other materials that can easily catch fire. There are several more fireproof alternatives to candles, such as battery-powered table lights.
Beware of cigarette embers
Embers from cigarettes pose a major fire risk. If any elderly people you know smoke, ask where and when they smoke when they are at home. Perhaps there are measures that can reduce the risk of fire? For example, there is a big difference between the risks of smoking outdoors and smoking in bed. A fire blanket can also help reduce the risk of fire development as a result of smoking.
Checklist for the kitchen chat
Awareness of fire hazards and good habits prevent many fires. For you as a relative, we have also made a checklist with the most important fire prevention measures, for use during the kitchen chat.
During the kitchen chat, you should talk about:
- Cooking and fire safety in the kitchen
- Safe use of electrical products
- Warning and escape routes
- Extinguishing a fire
- Candlelight and smoking
As a next of kin, you can:
- install a stove guard
- clean the filter in the cooker hood above the stove
- make sure that curtains, tablecloths, newspapers and furniture are at a good distance from panel heaters
- check that the smoke detector is working and can be heard everywhere in the home.
- provide extinguishing equipment that the resident is able to use
- clear away candle cuffs, flammable light decorations and unsteady candlesticks
- facilitate that smoking can take place without the risk of fire