American Red Cross of Central Florida 

Disaster Preparedness for Seniors

Residential Fires

One emergency we could all face at any time is a home fire. A home fire could be a special challenge for one with physical limitations. However, there are some things we can do to improve our safety:

Before a Fire

• Plan two escape routes out of each room. If you cannot use stairways, make special arrangements for help in advance. Never use elevators.
• Sleep with the bedroom door closed. This gives you extra minutes of protection from toxic fumes and fire.
• Test your smoke detector battery regularly, and as a reminder, change batteries on the same day each year. Vacuum it occasionally to remove dust.

In Case Of Fire

• Remain calm.
• Drop to the floor and crawl. Most fire fatalities are due to breathing toxic fumes and smoke. The cleanest air is near the floor. Breathing toxic fumes and smoke is more dangerous than the risk of injury in getting to the floor quickly.
• Feel any door before you open it. If it is hot, find another way out.
• If your smoke detector goes off, never waste time to get dressed or collect valuables or pets. Get out of the house immediately.
• Do not try to fight the fire! Call for help from a neighbor's phone.
• Never go back into a burning building for any reason.
• If your clothes catch on fire, drop to the floor and roll to suffocate the fire. Keep rolling (running from the fire only "fans" the flames and makes it worse).
• If you are in a wheelchair or cannot get out of your house, stay by the window near the floor. If you are able, signal the need to help.

Grandchildren's Safety

It is estimated that 3.4 million children live in a household headed by grandparents. And, many children visit their grandparents often. The following safety advice for children can help grandparents prepare a safe environment at home for children:

• Store matches and lighters up high, away from children.
• Move cleaning chemicals like cleansers, soap, drain cleaner and other poisons to high cupboards OR install a childproof lock if you must keep these items in low cabinets.
• Store prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, cough medicines, and stomachache remedies in a cabinet out of reach of children.
• If children are playing outside or in a pool when skies grow dark or you hear thunder, ask them to come indoors right away.
• Install plastic covers over all exposed electrical outlets.

Children Can Help Grandparents, too

• Have children test each smoke detector in your home to make sure it is working by using a broom handle to push the test button. See that the battery is changed in each detector that doesn't work.
• Ask children to draw a floor plan of your home and show two ways out of every room in case of fire.

The following may be ordered free from the U.S. Fire Administration

Smoke Detectors and Fire Safety: A Guide for Older Americans
Pub. #L-126

FEMA/U.S. Fire Administration
P.O. Box 2012
Jessup, MD 20794-2012

NOAA Weather Radio information from:

NOAA Weather Radio
Stock #: NOAA PA 76015

Contact your local National Weather Service office.

Includes frequency information, type of information broadcast and where to obtain a NOAA Weather Radio.

More information from the National Weather Service.

The following may be ordered from FEMA:

FEMA
P.O. Box 2012
Jessup, MD 20794-2012

Preparedness for People with Disabilities (earthquake)
Pub. # FEMA-75

Hurricane Awareness-Action Guidelines for Senior Citizens
Item #8-0440

Or, consult FEMA.

Emergency information may also be obtained from your utility company.

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