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1. Why are older people at risk?

Older Americans are at risk for a number of reasons including:

• They may be less able to take the quick action necessary in a fire emergency.
• They may be on medication that affects their ability to make quick decisions.
• Many older people live alone and when accidents happen others may not be around to help.

2. What fire hazards affect older people?

The following fire hazards may affect older people:

• Cooking accidents are the leading cause of fire related injuries for older Americans. The kitchen is one of the most active and potentially dangerous rooms in the home.
• The unsafe use of smoking materials is the leading cause of fire deaths among older Americans.
• Heating equipment is responsible for a big share of fires in seniors' homes. Extra caution should be used with alternate heaters such as wood stoves or electric space heaters.
• Faulty wiring is another major cause of fires affecting the elderly. Older homes can have serious wiring problems, ranging from old appliances with bad wiring to overloaded sockets.