The North Greece Fire District has many fire and life safety programs available to the residents of the Town of Greece. Among those programs, we have realized the importance of fire and life safety for the elderly. IN a 1999 report, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released statistics that showed that adults in the age group between 65 and 75 have a fire death rate twice that of the national average; between ages 75 and 85, three times the national average; and over age 85, four times the national average. In addition to that, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that "falls" are also a leading cause of injury and death to our elderly. Statistics show that deaths from falls increase significantly once a person passes the age of 70, and more than doubles after the age of 79.

With this in mind, the NGFD has adopted a functional NFPA program titled, "Remembering When" that focuses on these two very important areas of concern. Complete with three separate lesson plans, this program allows us to focus our instruction of any particular segment of the elderly population.

Incorporated into the fire prevention portion of the program are eight key messages including:

the importance of large, deep ashtrays (fires caused by smoking are the leading cause of fire deaths among the elderly)
space heater safety
becoming "kitchen-wise"
how to Stop, Drop, and Roll
smoke alarm awareness
planning/practicing an escape in case of fire
knowing your local emergency number
planning an escape around a person's abilities.
Included in the falls prevention portion are the following eight key messages:

exercising to improve balance and coordination
taking your time to gain balance
clearing the way
looking out for yourself (including using night lights)
using non-slip floor mats and grab bars
using non-skid throw rugs
installing and using handrails
wearing non-slip shoes
With education in these areas, we hope to lessen the effects that fires and falls have in the elderly population. If you have any questions or are in need of presenting this program, please call our Fire and Life Safety Educator at 581-5430.

Together we can make everyone of all ages safer!

Click here to see a Powerpoint Slideshow about "Remembering When"