The Importance of Electrical Safety Measures for
Older Adults By Brett Brenner, Electrical Safety Foundation International
S
tatistics show that home fi res, from a variety of causes, result in a signifi cant number of deaths and injuries each year. According to the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fi re departments respond to an estimated average of 371,700 home struc- ture fi res per year. T ese fi res cause an estimated average of 2,590 civilian deaths and 12,910 civilian injuries. Although electrical hazards plague the public at large,
older adults are burdened with the gravest risk. Adults over the age of 65 are more than twice as likely to die from a house fi re as the general population, and this risk increases with age. T ose 75 years of age and over are challenged with a risk that is 2.8 times higher, and adults over 85 are at a staggering risk that is 3.7 times higher. As baby boomers enter retirement age, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) has predicted that the percentage of older Americans will increase signifi cantly, thus mak- ing a corresponding increase in fi re deaths and injuries among older adults probable. Electrical failures are a leading cause of home fi res
every year, and electrical distribution and lighting equip- ment fi res have been shown to increase in frequency with increasing dwelling age. Homes with aging electrical systems are at a heightened risk for electrical fi res, posing a serious risk for older adults who have remained in the same home for an extended period of time. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, half of the homes in use in the United States were built before 1973, which is long before many of the electronics and appliances we use today were even invented. Unfortunately, our increased demands for energy can overburden an older home’s electrical system causing fi res or electrocutions. Many home electrical fi res can be prevented by using
more up-to-date technology and by recognizing warn- ing signs your home may be showing. Follow these easy safety tips to identify and prevent electrical hazards in your home: • Regularly check all cords, outlets, switches, and appli- ances for signs of damage or wear.
• Use extension cords only temporarily. • Be sure that outlets are not overloaded with too many devices. T ey can overheat and start a fi re.
• Look and listen for warning signs of an electrical problem such as outlets and switches that are warm, or make crackling, sizzling or buzzing sounds.
Photo courtesy of NRECA
• Always replace fuses or circuit breakers with the cor- rect size and amperage. And make sure all circuits are labeled correctly.
• Consider having your breakers upgraded to state-of- the-art AFCI circuit breakers. Keep the electrical panel accessible so you can quickly shut off power in an emergency.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Place alarms inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test them once a month, change the bat- teries at least once a year, and replace the alarm itself every ten years. T ese vital tips are featured in ESFI’s newly launched
“Home Fire Safety for Older Adults Safety Awareness Program,” which provides tools to educate older adults and their families nationwide about home fi re hazards re- lated to cooking, heating, and electrical equipment. A full range of resources for older adults, including detailed fact and tip sheets as well as public service announcements, can be found by visiting
www.esfi .org/safetyeducators. T is eff ort is part of ESFI’s National Electrical Safety Month initiative, “Electrical Safety for All Ages,” which takes a multigenerational approach to electrical safety by encouraging family members of all ages to work together to identify and correct potential home fi re hazards. Visit
www.esfi .org/NESM for ESFI’s full range of Na-
tional Electrical Safety Month materials, which also in- clude children-focused materials as part of its “Be Smart about Fire and Electrical Safety” program.
May 2013 - 9
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