Seniors more likely to be victims of fire

ALBANY — Older adults are the primary victims of residential fires, according to officials with the Albany Fire Department. And in response to multiple fatal house fires involving elderly adults over the last week in the Atlanta area, Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is urging Georgians to be “fire resilient.”

“We had four older adults die in separate house fires in Georgia recently,” Hudgens said. “All of the victims were over the age of 69. We are asking families, friends and neighbors to keep an eye on older residents in their community, especially regarding fire safety.”

The four fire fatalities included an 87 year-old woman in Dekalb County and two sisters, ages 69 and 73 in Cobb County on May 31. In Gwinnett County, a 71-year-old man perished on May 25. So far, this year, fire has claimed the lives of 67 Georgians.

“In 2010, we developed a fire safety program for senior adults,” said Assistant Chief Sebon Burns of the Albany Fire Department. “We identified the fact that seniors 65 and older are most likely to die in a fire. Our program involves working with local churches and the SOWEGA Council on Aging to teach basic fire safety practices.”

According to officials, older adults are more at risk for a variety of reasons.

“The older you get, the slower your reflexes are,” said Burns. “Your reaction time is slower. Your hearing isn’t is good as it used to be, and you don’t see as well as you once did. Also, the older you get, the more medication you take, which tends to make you drowsy.”

Because of these factors, officials say, many older adults lack the mobility/ability to escape a fire. Also, many older people are much more security-conscious and have burglar bars installed around windows and doors.

“Although burglar bars decrease the chance of a break-in,” Burns said, “they make it a lot harder for you to get out in case there is a fire. And it makes it a lot harder for firefighters to get in. The most important thing that we stress when it comes to fire safety is smoke detectors. All homes should have a smoke detector in each room and the hallway.”

Once installed in the highest point of a house, such as the ceiling, smoke detectors need a battery change every six months, officials recommend.

“We don’t recommend any particular brand — they all work about the same — we just urge people to check and change the battery when the time changes each year, in the spring and in the fall,” Burns said. “The No. 1 problem we have with smoke detectors not working is that people have removed the battery or not changed it to maintain proper operation.

“Also, you need to have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Have at least two exit points in case of a fire, and once you are out, stay out.”

Anyone with questions about how to create a fire escape plan can contact their local fire department or call Hudgens’ Fire Safety Education Division at (800) 656-2298.