Americans over the age of 65 have a fire death rate nearly twice the national average.  For those over 75, this jumps to three times the national average.  Whether living independently or in a care facility, there are steps seniors can take to remain safe from a fire. Some resources follow below.

Remembering When is a Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults. It was developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help older adults live safely at home for as long as possible.

Fact: At age 65, older adults are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires or falls compared to the population at large.

Fact: Thirty percent of people age 65 and older are involved in falls each year, the leading cause of death from unintentional injury in the home.

Fact: In the U.S. and Canada, adults age 65 and older make up about 12 percent of the population–and their numbers are increasing.

Remembering When is centered around 16 key safety messages–eight fire prevention and eight fall prevention–developed by experts from national and local safety organizations as well as through focus group testing.

Remembering When will be presented to senior groups in the Orland Township area in the near future. We will offer the program to senior organizations, condo association meetings, church groups, or any organization that is interested in learning about fire and fall prevention.

If you would like more information or are interested in setting up a class for your group or organization, please call the Orland Fire Protection District at 708-349-0074, ext 210 (Nancy).

Check out the NFPA site and download Remembering When newsletters here.