Tragedy in Canada: Reminder of Importance of Fire Safety Planning for Seniors
The news following the fire at a seniors’ residence in L’Isle-Verte, a small town northeast of Quebec City, is not getting any better, with estimates that in addition to 10 persons who have been confirmed dead, there may be another 24 who tragically perished. From the National Post in Canada, Christie Blatchford offers an early commentary, concluding the fire was “as predictable as it was terrible” because of inadequate or unenforced national standards for fire safety.
In one of those small ironies in life, I happened to be touring a dementia care site a few hours after hearing the first news of the Canadian fire. In contrast to the Canadian multi-floor building, the place I was visiting had single story cottages. I have to admit I did not notice whether there were sprinkler systems in the buildings, apparently a key concern about the Canadian fire; I suppose I was trusting that state law in the U.S. requires sprinklers. What I did notice were cleared areas set away from the structures where people could congregate in the event of any evacuation, especially important as the campus-like setting used locked perimeter fencing that permitted a great deal of movement but discouraged unsafe wandering or complete escape.
My tour guide seemed to make a special point of explaining their well-established fire plan and safety drill routines. She explained that each month they had a safety drill for one portion of the campus (on a rotating basis), requiring both staff and volunteers to work with the residents. If family were visiting, they would be included in practicing the evacuation safety steps, and families were encouraged to remain with their loved ones if a safety-related transfer was made.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) notes that at “age 65, people are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires compared to the population at large.” NFPA, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), offers “Remembering When,” a free “fire and fall prevention program for older adults,” with materials available to download here.
In reviewing the NFPA/CDC materials, two points jumped out. Most fatal fires occur at night when people are sleeping and smoke can “deepen” sleep. Thus the need for an appropriate alarm — and for older adults or others with hearing loss, that may mean a vibrating alarm. This is even more important for private homes than for care facilities. Also, it is important to practice a planned drill, and there should be a plan for who in the family or facility is responsible to assist frail or disabled residents.