By: Sara Duris
Q. My friend’s mother almost burned her house down the other day by falling asleep with something left cooking on the stove. The kitchen smoke alarm didn’t wake her but luckily her dog barking did. It makes me worried for my own parents as they can be forgetful too and also have hearing problems.
A. Fire safety, smoke alarms and prevention steps are important for all, but knowing what to do in the event of a fire is particularly important for older adults. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2015, adults over age 65 are twice as likely to suffer injury or die in a fire compared with the general population.
Decreased mobility, cognitive issues, and sight and hearing loss all can limit someone’s ability to respond and take quick actions needed in emergency situations such as a fire. The best plan is to have a plan and put in place necessary safety measures that better ensure someone’s survival in a fire. These include making sure smoke alarms are installed throughout the home, particularly in sleeping areas, and that these are regularly checked to make sure they are in working order. If someone has hearing issues, there are units that also use strobe lights or vibrate with the alarm. Sprinkler systems and small fire extinguishers are also measures that can be put in place.
Work with your loved one to plan and practice two escape routes that are free of obstruction and can be maneuvered by someone using a walker or wheelchair, if necessary. By practicing an escape plan, someone with vision impairment, or even with mild cognitive impairment, can rely more on instinct to follow the route in an emergency.
For more tips, go to www.nfpa.org; www.usfa.fema/gov; or www.agingcare.com and search under fire safety for older adults.
Q. Last year you gave out information about locations to get food. Can you give that again?
A. For emergency food assistance, regardless of age, call 2-1-1 to find food pantries near you. You will be asked to put in your zip code and then just follow the prompts for food assistance. Feeding America West Michigan also is a good resource for emergency food and facilitates the Mobile Food Pantry truck which has distribution days throughout the month in various locations around Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. Following are some upcoming distribution days: Niles, 6/19 at 3:00pm, Hope Community Church, 2390 Lake St.; Dowagiac, 6/20 at 4:00 pm, ACTION Ministry Center, 301 Main Street; Covert, 6/21 at 11:00 am, Van Buren United Civic Organization, 73292 34th Ave; New Buffalo, 6/22 at 11:00 am, New Buffalo American Legion, 19139 US Hwy 12; Coloma, 6/27 at 4:00pm, New Freedom Church, 6210 Mountain Rd; and St. Joseph, 6/28 at 4:00pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Main St.
For more information about Feeding America’s programs, you can go to www.feedwm.org or call the Benton Harbor site at 269-926-2646.