According to a recent story in the Wall Street Journal, an estimated five Americans are treated in an ER every hour for burns, scalds and related injuries from hot or poorly installed stoves. Important: most of the injuries could have been prevented with proper education about child safety gates, proper cooking clothing and installation information. A study conducted over 21 years showed that almost one million stove injuries were recorded with more than half in women.
Massachusetts Fatal Fire Caused By Unattended Cooking
A 65 year old woman sadly lost her life this week in Springfield, MA because of a cooking fire. The woman’s daughter and a family pet were able to escape, but a neighbor who tried to rescue the woman was unsuccessful. It was reported that two pans of food had been left unattended on a stove in the kitchen. It’s the most common cause of fires in Springfield. A local representative said that, “If anybody is cooking with oil or grease they should stay and watch what they are cooking.” More information about the fire can be found here http://bit.ly/17NuzcX.
Guardian SSI Discusses Cooking Fires and Seniors
HealthNewsDigest featured Guardian SSI in a post about seniors and cooking fires. Experts estimate that more than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported. More than 1,200 Americans over the age of 65 die and more than 3,000 are injured due to residential fires each year. Seniors are the highest risk group in North America. Learn more about this important fire prevention information here http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Seniors_320/Seniors-at-Highest-Risk-for-Cooking-Fires.shtml
Saving Seniors from Cooking Fires
Pick up the paper or turn on the news. Why? Poor hearing and vision, as well as impaired mobility contribute to putting mature adults in the highest risk group for cooking fires. In addition to $7 billion in property damage per year in the U.S. alone, the National Fire Protection Association reports that 43 percent of people killed in cooking fires were asleep at the time. It’s easy to see that seniors who generally fall asleep early and are more forgetful can easily become a very sad statistic.
What’s more, the number of seniors is skyrocketing. According to US News, between 2000 and 2010, the number of people age 65 to 84 in the U.S. grew by 3.3 million, and the 40 million senior citizens in 2012 will balloon to 89 million by 2050.
This situation is a wakeup call to those in the senior housing industry, as well as to the adult children of the elderly. Developers spend millions building beautiful retirement communities with many amenities that cater to people over 55, but may not consider that distraction, forgetfulness and memory loss can pose significant dangers to residents who cook.
I am calling on AARP and other senior advocates to lobby congress to increase senior cooking safety by requiring that all new senior housing require, at the very least, an automatic range top fire suppression system in both private apartments and community kitchens.
Further, with the recession and concurrent reductions in firefighter staff seen nationwide, it is imperative to stop fires before they start. I encourage states to look at fire prevention, reduction and range-top suppression equipment and require that it be mandatory in new buildings just like sprinklers and earthquake shut-off valves are. In fact, 2013 offers an ideal opportunity for groups representing seniors to introduce legislation mandating such protections.
Seniors at Highest Risk for Cooking Fires Warns Guardian SSI
Guardian Safety Solutions International (GSSI) experts estimate that more than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported. More than 1,200 Americans over the age of 65 die and more than 3,000 are injured due to residential fires each year. Seniors are the highest risk group in North America.
“The fact that seniors are the highest risk group for cooking fires is a wake up call to those in the senior housing industry, as well as adult children of the elderly,” said Paul Rouse, GSSI administrative officer. “Builders spend millions building beautiful residences with many amenities that cater to people over 55 but may not consider that distraction, forgetfulness and memory loss can pose significant dangers to the residents. The most important amenity that should be installed in every senior residence is a range top suppression system,” Rouse says.
In addition to the destruction of property estimated at $7 billion per year in the U.S. alone, the National Fire Protection Association reports that 43 percent of people who have died in cooking fires were asleep at the time. “It’s easy to see that seniors who generally fall asleep earlier and are more forgetful can easily become a very sad statistic,’ said Rouse.
“This data is the core of our “Guardian Solution,’ or range top suppression system,” said Rouse “Guardian protects seniors against a range top fire before it strikes. Those who build senior housing can rest at ease knowing that potential cooking fires stand no chance in a kitchen protected by Guardian.” He added that kitchens can be retrofitted for Guardian as well.
The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and at the same time prevents re-ignition. Once it detects heat at a pre-determined temperature, a signal is sent to release the extinguishing agent to suppress the fire and to shut off the gas or electric supply to the stove in order to prevent reigniting. The design of the system offers:
- • automatic operation
- • continuous 24-hour protection
- • concealed installation
- • easy clean-up
- • proven reliability
“Whether it is a senior resident or nursing home at risk, putting the fire out quickly is imperative to minimize damage and injury to our precious older population,” Rouse said. “The Guardian system provides that speed and protection.”
Saving Older Adults from Cooking Fire Risks
Pick up the paper or turn on the news. About 45 house fires are reported every hour in the U.S., and 60 percent of apartment fires are started by cooking equipment. More than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported causing 640,000 injuries annually. It just takes minutes for a fire to start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FCgtlITUM.
Unfortunately, many fire injuries and deaths are among those over 50. As we age, poor hearing and vision, as well as health problems affecting mobility contribute to putting mature adults in the highest risk group for cooking fires. In addition to the destruction of property estimated at $7 billion per year in the U.S. alone, the National Fire Protection Association reports that 43 percent of people who have died in cooking fires were asleep at the time. It’s easy to see that the growing baby boomer populations is at higher risk because they generally fall asleep early and are more forgetful.
According to US News, between 2000 and 2010, the number of people age 65 to 84 in the U.S. grew by 3.3 million, and the 40 million senior citizens in 2012 will balloon to 89 million by 2050.
This a wakeup call to not just those who live alone or with a spouse now that the kids have grown and moved out, but also for those in the senior housing industry, and the adult children who care for elderly parents. Developers spend millions building beautiful retirement communities with many amenities that cater to people over 50, but do not consider that distraction, forgetfulness and memory loss can pose significant dangers to the residents who cook. We increase cooking safety by requiring that all new senior housing requires, at the very least, a range top suppression system in both private apartments and community kitchens.
Further, with the recession and the concurrent reduction in fire fighter staff seen in cities big and small, it would be equally smart to stop fires before they start. States should require mandatory range top suppression equipment in new buildings or remodels just like sprinklers and earthquake shut-off valves are.
In the meantime, there are some safety precautions that boomers can take to prevent cooking fires:
Never leave cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in just seconds.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and practice using it.
Have a pot cover close by to put out a cooking fire quicklyWipe up spills from the stove which could catch fire.
- Always wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook.
- Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames.
- Don’t overfill pans with grease or cooking oil.
- Never use the range or oven to heat your home.
- Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house.
Never leave the kitchen to answer the door, grab the telephone, or change clothes while something is cooking without shutting the gas or electricity off.
It is dangerous to cook while on certain prescription medications or drinking alcohol.
I’m a boomer too, so I have a vested interest in safety for all of us.
