OLDER ADULT FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY PROGRAM
Conducted by the:
STATE OF MAINE
Department of Public Safety
Office of State Fire Marshal
LOCATION: TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT MUNICIPAL BUILDING
When: Tuesday, September 25th from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Maine's aging population, rural nature, the financial burden for some older citizens, combined with the desire to maintain quality of life into our senior years through independence, will require innovative approaches to keep older adults fire safe. Historically, older adult fire safety issues were addressed indirectly through standards applied to licensed nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These standards will remain in place and we still believe that many of our older adults should be encouraged to live in such settings. However, the data on fire death and injury in Maine and the number of older adults who will remain at home tell us regulatory action alone will not reduce the frequency of fire injury, death, and property loss for Maine's older adult population.
The United States Fire Administration estimates that Americans ages 65 and older are two to three times more likely to die in a residential fire than other age groups. In Maine, the percentage of older adults lost in residential fires exceeds all other age groups by a significant margin and has, over the past twenty years, been more severe than the national experience.
In response, the Fire Marshal's Office is presenting this program to work with seniors on fire prevention and safety strategies that focus on fire before it starts and after.
SPONSORED BY:
Traid- Mount Desert
Seniors and Law Enforcement Working Together
and
Mount Desert Fire Department
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