ADT Safety Tips: Fire Safety for Seniors

BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the U.S. Fire Administration, people over the age of 65 have a home fire death rate nearly twice the national average. For those over 75, that risk nearly triples. These statistics are alarming, especially when researchers estimate that by the year 2030, there will be more than 70 million senior Americans. In Canada, the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall reports that seniors over the age of 65 accounted for 30 percent of all fire fatalities reported between 1999 and 2008.

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Anndee Soderberg, with ADT Security Services, said, "Taking home fire safety precautions can help keep seniors safe and can also mean the difference between life and death." So it is important that everyone keep the following senior fire safety tips in mind:

• The American Burn Association recommends keeping your eyeglasses, hearing aids and a flashlight close to the bed. Looking around for these things during a fire can cost you valuable, life-saving time.
• Never smoke in bed or while lying on the couch. According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoldering cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths in the U.S.
• Never leave food unattended on the stove. When leaving the kitchen, take a wooden spoon or potholder as a reminder to return and turn off the oven and or burners.
• Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.  Space heaters can be a serious senior fire safety risk. Be extremely cautious when using both space and kerosene heaters and always keep at least three feet between portable heaters and anything that can burn including clothing, drapery, blankets, furniture, papers and even pets.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and consider monitored detection services. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, every year over 1,200 senior citizens die in fires. Many of these fire deaths may have been prevented with monitored smoke detection services connected to a monitoring center that operates 24/7 and can alert seniors and first responders to a home fire.
• Consider a Personal Emergency Response System. In the event of burns or other unexpected medical emergencies, a waterproof wristband or pendant with an emergency help button, connected to a home monitoring system can alert trained professionals to come to your aid.

Soderberg said, "We hope these tips help seniors create their own fire safety plans so they can live longer and more independently in their own homes."

About ADT Security Services:

ADT Security Services is a unit of Tyco International and part of ADT Worldwide, the world's largest electronic security provider. In North America, ADT provides electronic security services to nearly five million commercial, government and residential customers. ADT's total security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, video systems, access control, critical condition monitoring, home health services, electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification (RFID) and integrated systems. ADT's government and commercial customers include a majority of the nation's Fortune 500 companies, all U.S. federal courthouses and over 70 mid to large airports. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, ADT has more than 24,000 employees at approximately 240 locations in the U.S. and Canada. More ADT information is at http://www.adt.com.

SOURCE ADT Security Services