I’m getting on my soapbox here, hoping to save lives! Please, please, please, use the information in this article NOW to make your home and those of people you love safer.
DID YOU KNOW? Homes burn faster now than they did years ago. (Read to the end to find out why.)
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, older adults over 65 are nearly three times more likely to die in a house fire, and those over 85 face almost four times the risk.
It’s easy to forget about the critical role fire safety plays in our homes until there’s an emergency or a near miss. So, since October is Fire Safety Month, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look - because it could truly save a life.
When Did You Last Update Your Fire Safety Plan?
Any time there’s a change in a living situation - like adding or changing bedrooms, or having an aging relative move in - or if someone’s abilities change, your fire safety plan needs to be reassessed.
There needs to be more emphasis on home fire safety plans, especially for older adults and anyone with mobility limitations. This is one of the key questions asked when someone is admitted for home health care services because it is so very important. Clients are asked if they have working fire detectors, fire extinguishers, and a fire escape plan.
As a home health Physical Therapist and home accessibility consultant, I always address fire exits on my first visit. Often, people tell me they never really thought through the location of sleeping areas and how that relates to the ability to get out of the home quickly.
When someone can’t move easily, whether temporarily or permanently, home exit routes need to be closely examined and made easily accessible.
The bottom line is to do whatever you need to get everyone out of the house in the event of a fire. For people who can’t move fast or need someone else to help them move, careful consideration must be made regarding where they (and those who can help them) sleep.
Always Have a Minimum of Two Exits
There should always be at least two ways out of your home and ideally two exits for every room. You may also hear it referred to as egress. Believe it or not, I’ve seen quite a few homes and apartments with only one door to enter or exit. Sometimes there’s truly only one door, but often additional exits are blocked by furniture or clutter.
The other option to exit would be through a window. But make sure window locks, latches and bars work properly so they can easily be unlocked and released quickly. Emergency ladders can be used, but only by those who are able-bodied for the task.
As extra protection, always have a charged cell phone available in the bedroom to call for help and provide your location in case you can’t escape. Remember to have eyeglasses and necessary assistive devices, such as a cane, walker or wheelchair close to the bed so precious time isn’t wasted searching for them in a potentially smoke-filled room.
Bedroom Location
The most obvious solution is to locate the person’s bedroom where they can most easily escape. A room with a door to the outside would be best, but a large window that could be stepped through may also work, depending if the sill is low enough for the person to step through the window opening.
I talk a lot about wider doorways and hallways for general home accessibility. If someone uses a wheelchair, make sure the emergency exit door is wide enough so the person can push the wheelchair through. If a window will be used to climb through and escape, make sure it’s low enough to step through and wide enough that a first responder and the person being rescued could fit through together.
A first-floor sleeping area would be ideal, but if it’s on an upper floor, installing a balcony, such as a Juliet balcony, is an option. A Juliet balcony is a very narrow balcony or railing just outside the window or exterior door. It’s thought to get its name from Shakespeare’s play where Juliet stands on the balcony as her Romeo calls her. A balcony provides an easier location to be rescued and a place to be outdoors in case of a fire.
Clear Exit Routes
Remember that even during a minor fire, the smoke can become so blinding that finding exits is difficult. The closer someone is to an exit, the more likely they will be able to escape.
Clutter must be removed from in front of doors and windows and through pathways that lead to those areas. Spending a few seconds or minutes during an emergency to move objects out of the way wastes precious time. According to the National Fire Protective Association, once a fire starts, you may have as little as 2 minutes to escape.
Fast Detection is Key
Regarding the detection of fire, this is what the National Fire Protective Association has to say:
‘There should be a smoke detector inside every sleeping room, outside every sleeping area, on every level of the home including the basement. There should also be a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of a home. Modern furnishings with more foam and particleboard burn faster than natural materials used in the past, therefore fires spread more quickly. The more warning you have, the more time you have to leave the home safely.’
Let technology help with better and faster fire detection. Interconnected alarms save time by sending alerts throughout the home identifying the smoke or fire location rather than waiting for each individual smoke detectors to sound. One such device that I gifted to my parents is the Google Nest smoke and CO detector alarm that tests itself, tells you what’s wrong and can send messages to smart phones, both yours and family and friends.
For those with hearing difficulty, alternative alarms such as strobe lights and bed shakers are a must.
Conclusion and Next Steps
There are plenty of things you can do to improve fire safety at home. Newer technology is making much of this easier, but you’ll need to prepare ahead of time to protect yourself and those you love.
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Here's to making your home as safe as it can be!