Last time I wrote of the problem, this time some of the cures…or at least preventative steps to take whether it’s your home or your parent’s home.  Some things about smoke detectors and home escape planning are different for older Americans such as:

Many cannot hear a smoke detector, they need something different.  If you can’t hear a standard smoke detector with the bedroom door shut, obtain special detectors that have a louder horn or flashing strobe light; there are detectors available that can be wired to a vibrating pad that fits under your pillow.  Make sure you can be alerted.

Many seniors do not have the physical mobility to get out.  Many seniors have physical impairments that would make it difficult to quickly exit their home in the event of a fire.  If they cannot get in and out of their home under normal conditions without assistance, how can we expect them to do so at 2:00 a.m. when the smoke detector sounds its alarm and they have no available assistance? This is especially true if you have to use a walker or wheelchair or scooter to get out of the house.  If you or a loved one cannot physically save themselves in the event of a fire, it's  time to have someone stay with them around the clock or move to an assisted-living facility.  (My wife says it's still the hardest thing she's ever had to do--and it was for a variety of health and safety reasons--that is, convincing her dad that he needed to move out of his single family dwelling and into an assisted-living facility.)

Now, about that house…scientists have identified a “pack rat gene” in us Americans: we keep everything!  That’s why we needed someone to invent mini-storage and it’s why there are thousands of yard sales across America every weekend.  Many seniors live in homes or apartments that have too much stuff.  They’ve lived in the same home for many years and with that longevity comes some unique evacuation problems.  Their homes can become so cluttered with accumulated furniture—multiple chairs, sofas, knick-knack shelves, extra furniture in bedrooms—that there is simply not ample room to walk through the house under normal conditions, let alone escape in the event of a fire.  All that clutter also provides extra fuel if a fire does get started.

The same conditions can exist when seniors “downsize”, i.e., they move out of the “big” house with the “big” yard to a smaller house or apartment, but they move everything to their new abode.  Clean up and clean out America!  Give those family heirlooms to the children now, not later; have that yard sale and make some extra cash.  Call the Salvation Army, Goodwill, AmVets, or any charity of your choice and let them put your old stuff to good use.  Give yourself room to get out in the event of a fire!

Can you find your way out of your home late at night?  Many seniors have poor lighting in their home under normal circumstance.  For some bright lights cause them distress because of vision problems while others only have a few lamps because of a limited number of electrical outlets in older homes.  Many older Americans turn off every light in the house because they’re trying to save money.

The lights are not going to come on when the smoke detector sounds!  Put brighter lights in rooms that are part of your evacuation paths for the home.  Locate those lamps near doors that are being counted upon for exits.  Leave those lights on when you go to bed!  Put a “plug-in” rechargeable flashlight in your bedroom so that a fully charged light is always available for your evacuation.

Consider the age and condition of the major systems in the older home.  Older electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems and laundry appliances can all become sources of ignition for a fire because of age, lack of maintenance or both.  Pay particular attention to filters and ductwork; keep them clean and change regularly to minimize the potential for a fire originating in these areas.