Day 11 of the 12 Days of Fire Safety is focused on seniors. There are important steps seniors, their families and care providers can take to help reduce this risk, including:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, as well as in every bedroom and in the hallway or room outside each sleeping area, because most fatal fires occur when people are sleeping;

• If any resident of the home has trouble hearing, install a visual smoke alarm that will alert the resident with lights or vibrations. Test alarms to ensure they can alert the individual;

• Keep a phone beside the bed and keep a list of emergency contacts (including 911) and a flashlight handy;

• Consider using a night light in case you need to get up quickly in the dark;

• If possible, move the bedroom of anyone with limited mobility to the ground floor of the home to facilitate easier and more timely evacuation;

• Keep outside steps and walkways well lit, in good repair, and free of snow;

• Ensure that all residents are able to open any doors and windows in the home that may be used as an escape route during a fire or emergency; and

• Regularly practice your fire escape plan, keep hallways and stairs free of clutter that may be a trip hazard, and know how to escape from every room in the home.

Follow the department on Twitter @MAE_GovNL for more holiday safety tips during the holiday season.

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment wishes all residents a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you to all firefighters, fire departments, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services for your dedication throughout the year.

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466