Introduce yourself. Thank your audience for the opportunity to talk to them about fire safety. Explain what your presentation will cover: the importance of fire safety, how to make your home fire safe and what to do if a fire occurs. Mention that you will be showing a video to reinforce the important messages people should be taking home. Mention how you would like questions to be asked (e.g. during the presentation or at the end. 1
Why is fire safety so important to older adults? Statistics show that adults over age 65 are at greater risk of dying in a fire than any other age group. And because you are typically staying in your homes longer, we want to make sure that you are safe in your home. 2
Most fire deaths occur in the home, where people feel safe and secure. In Ontario, 86% of fatal fires occur in residential properties. The majority of preventable fires resulting in a fire death are where people live. So today we will focus on the essential things you can do to stay safe in your homes. 3
Who is dying in fires? Older adults are at the greatest risk of fire death compared with other age groups. What s different about fires involving victims age 65+? In Ontario, the largest percentage of fire deaths occur in the 70-79 age group. In this age group, more incidents occur where clothing is ignited by smokers materials or cooking In this age group, more victims are physically disabled Typically, older adults may have physical limitations making them slower to react or evacuate 4
Some of the causes of fires involving older adults are: 1. Cooking, and specifically unattended cooking 2. Cigarettes 3. Heating equipment, specifically the improper use of space heaters 4. Candles 5. Electrical hazards, i.e. overloaded electrical circuits and damaged extension cords So let s take a look at each of these causes and what can be done to prevent these types of fire. 5
Cooking is a leading cause of home fires, so you must be aware of all the hazards that lurk around the stove. Key Points: Look while you cook never leave cooking unattended. If you leave the kitchen while cooking with oil or high temperatures, turn off the stove, or take a spoon or oven mitt with you to remind you of the cooking. 6
Q: What is the hazard? A: Items that can easily catch fire too close to the stove. Key Points: Items such as curtains, tea towels, oven mitts, pot holders and paper towels should not be kept too close to the stovetop Keep things that can catch fire away from your stovetop Clutter contributes to the spread of fire 7
Correct behaviour Message: Clear the clutter 8
Q: What is the hazard here? A: Wearing loose clothing when cooking. Key Points: Avoid wearing loose dangling clothing while cooking Wear tight-fitting or rolled up sleeves when cooking Loose dangling clothing can come into contact with the burners and catch on fire Loose dangling clothing can also catch the pot and knock it over 9
Correct behaviour Message: Wear tight-fitting or rolled up sleeves 10
Q: Do you know what to do if your clothes catch fire? A: Stop, drop and roll. Key Point: If your clothing catches fire, stop (don t run), drop gently to the ground cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to smother the fire. If you cannot do that smother the flames with a towel or blanket. [Demonstration: Educator can demonstrate Stop, Drop and Roll and how to use a towel to smother the flames] 11
Q: What is the hazard? A: Pot handles turned outward. Key Points: Pot handles should be turned inward and away from the edge of the stove to prevent anyone from knocking over the pot(s) Turn handles inward to prevent young children from grabbing the handles 12
Correct Behaviour Message: Keep pot handles turned inward 13
Q: What are some ways you can scald yourself when cooking? A: Steam from boiling water, microwave food. Q: What are some ways you can burn yourself when cooking? A: Touching hot pot handles, touching the oven. Q: How can you prevent scalds and burns when cooking? A: Use oven mitts or pot holders. 14
Message: Use an oven mitt when cooking to prevent scalds and burns. [Demonstration: Educator can bring prop show proper oven mitts and pot holders] Key Points: Use dry oven mitts or potholders when removing hot food from ovens, microwaves, or stovetops Do not use tea towels as they can dangle and catch fire Replace old or worn oven mitts to prevent burns Open microwave containers slowly, away from you to avoid scalds from steam 15
Q: What should you do if you burn yourself? A: Cool the burn under cool water. Key Points: Cool a burn by running cool water over the wound for 3 to 5 minutes If the burn is severe, seek medical attention Tip: Explain why not to use lotion or butter on a burn or scald keeps the heat in 16
If you ve done all these things and you still have a fire on the stovetop, let s talk about the proper way to extinguish a fire. 17
Click on the picture to start the video clip. After you have showed the clip, click on the grey border to advance to the next slide. Set up the Video Clip: This clip shows a pot of grease that has reached its ignition point. The firefighters put ½ a cup of water on the fire to demonstrate what can happen when you put water on a grease fire. Tips: Talk about the demonstration being in a controlled setting tell the audience to imagine this being a stove in their home with cupboards, curtains etc and what the devastating results of that fireball would be. Emphasize the consequences of putting water on a grease fire. When water is added to a flaming pot of oil it can spread droplets of flaming oil across the kitchen area and start new fires or cause serious burns. If appropriate, give examples of a grease fire from your community 18
Know what to do if you have a cooking fire. Key Points: Keep a proper-fitting pot lid and oven mitt near the stove when cooking. Slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool. Do not move the pot. If the fire does not go out, make sure everyone gets out of the home and call the fire department (9-1-1) from outside Tip: Demonstrate the proper method for extinguishing the fire using the oven mitt, pan and lid. 19
Q: Does anyone have younger grandchildren? Key Points: Keep young children at least a metre away from the stove Young children might try to touch hot things on the stove or pull on the oven door 20
Another common cause of fires is careless smoking. In fact, in Ontario, careless smoking is the number one cause of fire deaths. Encourage smokers to smoke outside or use large deep ashtrays that are heavy enough so they can t be easily knocked over. Do not extinguish cigarettes in plant pots, which often contain peat moss, shredded wood and bark that can easily ignite. Never smoke in bed or when lying down. 21
Never smoke when you are sleepy, drinking alcoholic beverages or when taking medications that make you drowsy. Never smoke if medical oxygen is used in the home. Empty ashtrays properly - douse ashes with water or empty them into the toilet. Make sure they are completely out. Never empty ashtrays directly into the garbage. A lighted cigarette that falls onto bedding or upholstery can smoulder for hours. Please be very careful with smoking materials. And always keep matches and lighters out of the sight and reach of children 22
Portable heaters are a great way to supplement your central heating, but they can also be a fire hazard if used incorrectly. Make sure that all combustibles/things that can burn are kept at least one metre (three feet) away from portable heaters. Examples: Curtains or drapes, furniture, blankets, bedding 23
[Note to Educator: If possible, have octopus outlets and damaged or frayed cords and a power bar as props to show your audience] Electrical fires are also common in Ontario. Multiple appliances plugged into one outlet can overload the circuit, causing an electrical short and a potential fire. Avoid overloading a circuit with octopus outlets. Check cords for damage such as fraying or nicks. A damaged cord can expose wires and result in a potential shock or fire hazard. Avoid running cords under rugs and furniture, which can damage the cord and cause a fire. 24
Q: What is the hazard? A: Octopus wiring too many items plugged into the one receptacle. Key Point: Multiple appliances plugged into one outlet can overload the circuit, causing an electrical short and a potential fire 25
Q: Does anyone burn candles in their homes? Message: Fires caused by candles are easily preventable. 26
Key Point: Secure candles in a sturdy holder, where they cannot be knocked over Place a glass shade or hurricane chimney over candles. When you go out, blow out! Always blow out candles before leaving the room. Buy good quality candles that are smoke-free and drip-free Make sure lit candles are kept out of reach of children and pets Keep all combustible materials, including decorative items and wreaths away from lit candles [Note to Educator: show your audience examples of fire safe candles] 27
A leading cause of dryer fires in homes is the lack of dryer maintenance. Remember to take the following precautions: Installation / Maintenance The use of rigid or flexible metal ducting for venting to the outdoors is preferred over other duct products. Plastic or metal foil ducts are more prone to kinking, sagging and crushing, which leads to lint build up. Further, plastic ducting is also more prone to ignition and melting. Clothes dryers that are designed to be located in closet type spaces or totally enclosed rooms (e.g. in apartments) should have sufficient incoming air for proper operation (as specified in the manufacturer s instructions). It is extremely important to regularly remove the lint that accumulates metal ducts and exhaust vent/hood. The inside of the dryer cabinet should be periodically cleaned as per manufacturer s instructions. Read the dryer manufacturer s instructions before installing the vent. Determine the straightest and most direct venting path to the outdoors to reduce the likelihood of lint accumulation in bends or elbows. 28
Follow the manufacturer s recommendations regarding the safe use of the dryer. Inspect and clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Regularly inspect the air exhaust to ensure it is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap opens when the dryer is operating. Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed. 29
What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly. CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves or vehicles. 30
Prevent the build-up of CO in the home by following the tips below. Ensure fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys are cleaned and inspected by professionals every year before cold weather sets in. Gas and charcoal barbeques should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings. Never use barbeques inside garages, even if the garage doors are open. Portable generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings. 31
Ensure all portable heaters are vented properly, according to manufacturer s instructions. Vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, fireplace and other fuel-burning appliances should always be clear of snow and other debris. Open the flue before using a fireplace for adequate ventilation. Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open. Always remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it. 32
We ve just talked about the leading causes of fire. There are some other issues that contribute to fire fatalities: no working smoke alarms and no home fire escape plans. Educator to ask: First, can anyone tell me why it is important to have working smoke alarms in your home? A: It s the law and because fire and smoke spreads so quickly, that people may have less than 60 seconds to safely escape a fire. 60 seconds!! So early warning of that fire is vital. And only working smoke alarms can provide that early warning. 33
The law requires that smoke alarms be installed on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, the fire service recommends that smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom. Follow the manufacturers instructions regarding the best places to install your smoke alarms. If you are unsure of where to install smoke alarms, call your local fire department. Outline the fire department's smoke alarm program and enforcement strategy. 34
The law requires CO alarms installed in the locations identified on the slide. Locate CO alarms outside sleeping areas according to manufacturer s instructions. Install at least one battery-powered CO alarm that will operate during power outages. 35
Make sure you have the appropriate number of smoke & CO alarms installed in your home. Alarms need to be tested every month by pressing the test button. [Demonstration: The educator should have a smoke & CO alarm and batteries as props. Show the audience how to test them.] 36
There are numerous smoke alarms available on the market today that address the specialized needs of people with hearing impairments. Some devices utilize a bright flashing strobe light, as well as an audible alarm, to alert the residents in the event of a fire. Due to the electrical supply requirements to operate these strobe lights, they must be wired directly into the home s 110v A/C electrical system. Some models have a 9v battery backup that will ensure the audible alarm will activate in the event of a power failure, however the battery will not activate the strobe light. Additional options also exist that allow the individual to connect their smoke alarms to an alerting system that may incorporate a flashing strobe light, vibrating pager and/or vibrating bed shaker to alert the resident to the emergency. Other suitable options are also available. A catalogue detailing all available options for the deaf, deafened or hard of hearing is available through The Canadian Hearing Society. Their Head Office contact numbers are 1 877 347 3427 (TTY: 1 877 216 7310) and their website is www.chs.ca. 37
Q: Can anyone tell me how often you should change the batteries in your smoke and CO alarms? A: Change the battery in each smoke alarm once a year and whenever the low-battery warning sounds ( chirps ) Make sure the batteries in your smoke and CO alarms are changed once a year. [Demonstration: Educator should use props to show how to change the battery in the smoke and CO alarm.] 38
Q: Can anyone tell me how often you should replace your smoke alarms? A: Replace the smoke alarms every 10 years they do wear out including those hard-wired to the home s electrical system. Q: Who can tell me how often CO alarms should be replaced? A: Replace CO alarms every 7 10 years, according to manufacturer s instructions. 39
Smoke alarms can be irritating if you have many false alarms. False alarms can be minimized by avoiding installation of the alarms near kitchens, bathrooms, furnaces, fire places, woodburning stoves, etc., unless you have smoke alarms specifically designed for these locations. Key Points: False alarms can be minimized by avoiding installation of the alarms near kitchens, bathrooms, furnaces, fire places, woodburning stoves, etc., unless you have smoke alarms specifically designed for these locations. Photoelectric alarms are less prone to activate due to cooking activities, consider replacing ionization smoke alarms located near kitchens with photoelectric alarms Never disconnect or remove the batteries in your smoke alarms. [Note to educator: be prepared to talk about the differences between photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms and the hush button feature. For example, both alarms are tested to the same standard and must meet the same level of performance. 40
Since one cannot predict the type of fire that may occur, installing both types of alarms can enhance fire safety.] 40
Another issue we want to address is the spread of smoke. In fatal fires, people usually think it is the flames that kill people. But that is a myth typically it is the toxic smoke and gases that overcome people. This means that preventing the spread of smoke is extremely important to protecting people if a fire occurs. If your clients live in apartment buildings or multi-unit dwellings, remind them to always close all doors when leaving their apartment/building in the event of a fire. This includes their apartment door, all hallway doors and stairwell doors. Similarly, if you see any of these doors propped open while visiting clients in the building, the fire service asks you to close them and fill out a referral form to be sent to the fire department. 41
People have to remember that working smoke alarms are not enough to ensure they safely escape a fire in their home. The fire service often finds that people don t know what to do when the smoke alarms sound typically because they haven t planned how to escape their home in the event of a fire. Everyone in the home MUST know exactly what to do to escape BEFORE a fire occurs. 42
[Note to educator: Have available the home fire escape planning card to distribute to the audience] Key Points: This is what a home fire escape plan should include: Make sure everyone knows two ways out of each room, if possible Check that all exits are unobstructed and easy to use If caught in smoke, get low and go under the smoke to the nearest safe exit. Choose a meeting place outside, such as a tree or a lamp post, where everyone can be accounted for Call the fire department from outside the home, from a cell phone or neighbour s home Once out, stay out. Never re-enter a burning building. If you have a disability, develop an escape plan with your household that takes into account your unique needs. Practice your home fire escape plan. 43
For people who live in apartment buildings and need assistance to escape: If you live in an apartment building make sure you tell the superintendent or landlord if you need assistance to escape. Make sure your name is added to the persons who require assistance list in the fire safety plan, so the fire department knows which apartment you are in Know the emergency procedures outlined in the building s fire safety plan. If smoke enters your apartment: Telephone the fire department, tell them where you are and then move to the balcony. Close the doors behind you. If you don t have a balcony, go to the most smoke-free room, close the door and seal it with tape and towels. If necessary, open the window for fresh air. Show emergency personnel where you are by hanging a sheet from the window or balcony. Keep low to the floor where the air is cleaner. Listen for instructions from authorities. Every person in your home must know what to do if fire strikes. 43
Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death. If the CO alarms sound, or if someone in the household is experiencing symptoms of exposure to CO, everyone should leave the home immediately. Call 9-1-1 from outside the home. 44
The educator should stress that having working smoke & CO alarms and a home fire escape plan can increase your chances of escaping a fire in your home. 45
Know your local emergency number. It may be 9-1-1 or the fire department s phone number. Once you ve escape a fire, call the fire department from outside using a cell phone or from a neighbour s home. The following items should be kept close at hand in case of an emergency: Telephone numbers for fire department, police and ambulance Eyeglasses, hearing aids, wheel chairs, walkers, canes when you go to bed Remember: Don t hesitate to call 9-1-1 or your local fire department. 46
[Note to educator: show No Time to Spare to reinforce the speed at which fire spreads and the importance of working smoke alarms and home fire escape plans] [Click on the black border around the picture to start the video] To reinforce the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms, properly storing fire starting materials and practicing a home fire escape plan, I want to show you the re-creation of a fire that occurred in Ontario a few years ago in which a five-year-old boy died. The mother, father and a second child managed to escape, but the five-year-old became scared and ran back upstairs, where he perished in the fire. The fire was started by the boy, who was playing with matches. At the time, the Ontario Fire Code required that residences have one smoke alarm installed outside sleeping areas. This home did have a working smoke alarm outside the sleeping area on the second floor of the home. The Office of the Fire Marshal had the opportunity to re-create the fire in a home that was identical to that in the actual fire. For the re-creation, the OFM installed an additional smoke alarm on the first storey, as well as heat sensors and video cameras to monitor the conditions and behaviours of the fire. This re-creation provided great insight into fire growth and spread, and was instrumental in building the case for the change to the Ontario Fire Code that now requires working smoke alarms on all storeys and outside sleeping areas of all homes in Ontario. Ask the audience to take note of the amount of time that elapses from the start of the fire to the sound of the smoke alarms on each storey, as well as the time that flashover occurs. This highlights how little time there is for escape and rescue, and the absolute importance of working smoke alarms and home fire escape plans. After showing the DVD, ask the audience: "What is your reaction to the fire re-creation?" Reinforce the importance of working smoke alarms and home fire escape planning. 47
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