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
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