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By focusing attention on senior issues,
the National Fire Protection Association and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention believe they can make a measurable
improvement in the health and well-being of older adults -- a
rapidly growing segment of the population. In the United States and
Canada, adults age 65 and older make up about 12 percent of the
population, and their numbers are increasing. The Remembering When
program is designed to prevent injuries among these older adults and
help them live safely at home for as long as possible.
Each year, approximately 7,000 older
adults age 65 and older die as a result of home falls, and an
additional 1,000 die in their homes from fires or burns. The
Remembering When program, developed by NFPA in cooperation with the
CDC, teaches older adults to protect themselves from fires and falls
through trivia quizzes, humor and nostalgic interactive games. The
focus is fun, but the safety messages are serious.
The state team working to create and
implement Remembering When consists of the Office of the State Fire
Marshal as the lead agency, along with the Illinois Department on
Aging, Illinois Department of Public Health and NFPA. The following
pilot communities were chosen: Rolling Meadows Fire Department,
Carpentersville Fire Department and Glenwood Fire Department.
The state team and pilot communities
meet on a regular basis to create the model to follow during the
implementation of the program. NFPA has provided the first round of
resources and supplies to pilot communities, including smoke alarms
and night lights. The implementation process will include group
presentations, home visits, and smoke alarm and night light
installations.
Fire departments will complete a
checklist of information obtained during home visits and submit the
information to the Office of the State Fire Marshal on a quarterly
basis. The checklist will include age of residents, ethnicity,
county, conditions of the home environment, and the number of smoke
alarms, night lights and carbon monoxide alarms that were installed.
At this time, all pilot locations have agreed to replace existing
smoke alarms, no matter their condition, with 10-year lithium
battery smoke alarms.
The purpose of the pilot phase is to
provide for recruitment, implementation, training, support and
expansion for future Remembering When communities statewide and for
training of other states nationwide.
For
additional information on the Remembering When program, contact Jeff
Magill, Career Development and Public Education, Office of the State
Fire Marshal, 1035 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, IL 62703-4259;
phone (217) 524-7641; e-mail
Jeff.Magill@sfm.state.il.us.
Information will also be available on the Web at
www.state.il.us/osfm.
Fire prevention reminders
The National Fire Protection
Association statistics show that people age 65 and older are twice
as likely to die in a home fire as the population at large. But this
high risk can be greatly reduced by following simple fire prevention
rules. These tips can help protect you and your loved ones.
Maintain smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms save lives. Test them once
a month by pushing the test button. Change smoke alarm batteries
once a year. Have smoke alarms installed outside all sleeping areas
and on every level of your home. Make sure everyone in your home can
hear your smoke alarms.
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Plan and practice your escape from
fire. Know two ways out of
every room in your home. Make sure windows and doors open easily. In
a fire, get out and stay out.
Plan your escape around your abilities.
Have a telephone in your
bedroom and post the local emergency number nearby in case you are
trapped by fire.
Give space heaters space.
Keep space heaters at least three feet
(one meter) away from anything that can burn -- including you.
Unplug heaters when you shut them off, leave your home or go to bed.
Wear fitted clothing when cooking.
Never leave cooking unattended. Be kitchen wise. Wear tight-fitting
or rolled-up sleeves when cooking. Use oven mitts to handle hot
pans. If a pan of food catches fire, slide a lid over it and turn
off the burner. Don't cook if you are drowsy from alcohol or
medication.
If you smoke, use large, deep ashtrays.
Provide smokers with large,
deep ashtrays. Wet cigarette butts and ashes before emptying
ashtrays into a wastebasket. Never smoke when you are lying down,
drowsy or in bed.
Stop, drop and roll.
If your clothing catches on fire, stop
-- don't run -- and drop gently to the ground, cover your face with
your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames. If you
cannot do that, smother the flames with a towel or blanket. Immerse
burns in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. If burns are severe, get
medical help immediately.
Know your
local emergency number. It
may be 911 or the fire department's phone number. Once you've
escaped a fire, call the fire department from a neighbor's phone.
Fall prevention reminders
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention statistics show that falls are the leading cause of death
from unintentional injury in the home. But, you don't have to be a
victim. The following tips can help keep you safely on your feet.
Look out for yourself.
See an eye specialist once a year. Poor
vision can increase your chance of falling. Improve the lighting in
your home. Use night lights to light the path between your bedroom
and bathroom. Turn on the lights before using stairs.
Tread carefully.
Stairways should be well lit from both
top and bottom. Have easy-to-grip handrails installed along the full
length of both sides of the stairs.
Slippery when wet.
Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and
the shower. Install grab bars next to bathtubs, showers and toilets.
Wipe up spilled liquids immediately.
Exercise regularly.
Build strength and improve your balance
and coordination. Ask your doctor or other health care provider
about the best physical exercise for you.
Take your time.
Being rushed or distracted increases
your chance of falling. Get out of chairs slowly. Sit a moment
before you get out of your bed. Stand and get your balance before
you walk.
Clear the way.
Keep stairs and walking areas, indoors
and out, free of electrical cords, shoes, clothing, books, magazines
and other clutter.
Throw rugs can throw you.
Use only throw rugs with rubber,
nonskid backing. Always smooth out wrinkles and folds in carpeting.
Best foot
forward. Wear sturdy,
well-fitted, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles. These are safer
than high heels, thick-soled athletic shoes, slippers or stocking
feet.
[News release
from the Office of the State
Fire Marshal] |
