Seniors

There are important steps seniors, their families, and care providers can take to help reduce the risk of fire, including:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, as well as in every bedroom and in the hallway or room outside each sleeping area;
• If any resident of the home has trouble hearing, install a visual smoke alarm that will alert the resident with lights or vibrations;
• Keep a phone beside the bed and keep a list of emergency contacts (including 911) and a flashlight handy;
• If possible, move the bedroom of anyone with limited mobility to the ground floor of the home to facilitate easier and more timely evacuation;
• Practice your fire escape plan, keep hallways and stairs free of clutter that may be a trip hazard, and know how to escape from every room in the home;
• Keep outside steps and walkways well lit, in good repair, and free of snow; and
• Ensure that all residents are able to open any doors and windows in the home that may be used as an escape route during a fire or emergency.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell, taste, or colour and can form inside your home when burning fuel such as propane, oil, gasoline, and wood. The risk is particularly high during the winter months as many homes are heated by one or more of these fuels.

Here are some tips that will help reduce the risk of fire:

• Never use a barbecue, generator, or other fuel-burning appliance inside a home, garage, or any enclosed space;
• Ensure your home has at least one carbon monoxide detector:
• Choose a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certified detector;
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to install, test, and use the detector;
• If your detector is triggered, leave your home immediately and move to fresh air;
• Never attempt to locate the source of carbon monoxide yourself;
• To reduce the risk, ensure fuel-burning appliances are well-maintained and inspected by a professional at least once annually;
• Ensure the exhaust vents for dryers, furnaces, fireplaces, and stoves are clear – particularly during and after snowfalls;
• Never allow a vehicle to idle inside a garage, even if the door is open; and
• Never use kerosene or oil space heaters or lamps in enclosed areas unless they are specifically designed for indoor use.

Follow the department on Twitter @MAE_GovNL  for holiday safety tips.

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment wishes all residents a safe and happy holiday season.

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca