Maryland State Fire Marshal

News Release
Martin OMalley Brian S. Geraci
Governor State Fire Marshal
FIRE SAFETY AWARENESS FOR AGING ADULTS
STATEWIDE (April 24, 2013) -- The recent loss of life involving a senior citizen in Montgomery
o!nty is a grim remin"er of the importance of practicing fire safety in the home# The $ffice of the %tate
&ire Marshal re'!ests aging Marylan"ers to ta(e special preca!tions to protect themselves from the
potential of in)!ry or even "eath res!lting from scal" *!rns an" fire relate" in)!ries# The aging process
can be difficult enough without having to recover from injuries related to smoke and thermal burns,
state" %tate &ire Marshal +rian %# ,eraci# Everyone needs to assume responsibility and take the
initiative to protect themselves from needless injuries resulting from these hazardous issues.
Aging a"!lts are a fast gro-ing segment of the American society an" are at a serio!s ris( of
receiving long term in)!ries an" possi*ly "eath from e.pos!re to smo(e an" high heat con"itions# The
ina*ility to escape the effects of fire *eca!se of physical limitations an"/or !se of me"ications is of
consi"era*le concern, there*y, performing safe practices an" having an escape plan are essential to the
'!ality of life# +y practicing scal" an" fire safety, aging a"!lts can re"!ce their chance of enco!ntering a
"e*ilitating in)!ry or "eath#
0lease ta(e the time no- to get involve" in the health an" safety of o!r aging pop!lation# %trong
*on"s *et-een families, frien"s an" neigh*ors are an e.tremely important factor in protecting love" ones
an" frien"1s from the effects of fire# 2hen visiting at family mem*ers an" neigh*ors1 homes, ta(e time to
revie- fire prevention an" life safety meas!res -ith each other to help ens!re a trage"y is avoi"e"#
0lease follo- an" share the liste" tips an" g!i"elines to help protect all citizens, regar"less of age, from a
fire or *!rn relate" in)!ry#
Before a Fire Occurs
Identify the Nearest Eer!ency E"it#
2hether yo! are at home or else-here, yo! sho!l" al-ays (no- the location of the nearest e.it# This
0age $ of %
co!l" save yo!r life in an emergency#
&eed Fire Safety and Desi!n Guide'ines#
2al(-ays an" "oor-ays sho!l" accommo"ate any mo*ility impairment an in"ivi"!al may have# &or
e.ample, "oor-ays sho!l" accommo"ate a -heelchair1s -i"th, an" flooring material sho!l"
accommo"ate artificial lim*s, -al(ers, or canes#
Insta'' and Test So(e A'ars#
$ne important step yo! can ta(e to save yo!r life "!ring a fire is to install a smo(e alarm that s!its yo!r
nee"s# A -or(ing smo(e alarm can ma(e a vital "ifference in the event of a fire an" may re"!ce the ris(
of "ying in a fire *y as m!ch as 30 percent# A properly f!nctioning alarm can alert yo! to the presence of
"ea"ly smo(e -hile there is still time to escape# 0lace alarms in each sleeping area an" on every floor of
yo!r home# 4eep smo(e alarms clean *y vac!!ming or having them vac!!me" reg!larly# Test the alarm
f!nction monthly, an" replace the *atteries ann!ally# As( frien"s, family mem*ers, *!il"ing managers, or
someone from the fire "epartment to install an" test the *atteries of a smo(e alarm if it is har" to reach#
2hen replacing *attery only smo(e alarms, have 10-year lithi!m seale"-in *attery alarms installe"# 5f
yo!r smo(e alarms are har"-ire" (connecte" to the electric circ!itry of yo!r resi"ence), ma(e s!re they
are also e'!ippe" -ith *attery *ac(!ps# Aging smoke alarms may not operate efciently
and often are the source for nuisance alarms. %mo(e alarms sho!l" *e replace" every 10
years to ens!re optimal effectiveness#
)onsider 'i*in! in a hoe +rotected ,y residentia' fire s+rin('ers#
6esi"ential fire sprin(lers are a proven life saving "evice in the event a fire occ!rs# The '!ic( action of
these life saving "evices provi"es the a""itional time nee"e" to escape the effects of fire# 5n many cases,
a single fire sprin(ler hea" activates an" e.ting!ishes the fire prior to the arrival of the fire "epartment#
&a*e a Fire E"tin!uisher and Learn &o- To Use It#
5f yo! are confine" to a -heelchair, consi"er mo!nting (or having someone mo!nt) a small 7personal
!se8 fire e.ting!isher in an accessi*le place on yo!r -heelchair an" *ecome familiar -ith its !se# Then, as
yo! may not *e a*le to 7stop, "rop, an" roll8 "!ring a fire involving yo!r clothing, yo! sho!l" 7p!ll, aim,
s'!eeze, an" s-eep#8
Li*e Near an E"it#
5f yo! live in an apartment *!il"ing, try to get an apartment on the gro!n" floor# 5f this is not possi*le,
(no- -here the e.it stair-ell is an" plan to -ait there for help if yo! cannot ta(e the stairs in the event of
a fire#
If you 'i*e in a u'ti.story house/ try to s'ee+ on the !round f'oor#
Ma(e s!re a phone (or a TT9/T:: if yo! !se one) is ne.t to yo!r *e", -ithin arm1s reach# 4eep
emergency telephone n!m*ers an" hearing ai"s (if necessary) han"y as -ell# 5f necessary, constr!ct an
e.it ramp for emergency e.its# (&ollo- local *!il"ing co"es as provi"e" *y yo!r *!il"ing permits office)#
0'an and 0ractice Your Esca+e 0'an#
4no-ing an" practicing yo!r escape plan is one of the most important steps yo! can ta(e to save yo!r
life in a fire#

0'an your esca+e around your ca+a,i'ities#
4no- at least t-o e.its from every room# Ma(e s!re yo! can !nloc( all yo!r "oors an" -in"o-s# +e
s!re yo! (no- ho- to open yo!r -in"o-s# 5f sec!rity "evices, s!ch as *ars, are installe" across the
-in"o-s, ens!re that they release from the insi"e# Ma(e any necessary accommo"ations (s!ch as
0age 1 of %
installation of e.it ramps) to facilitate escape#
In*o'*e the Fire De+artent#
As( the fire "epartment to help yo! plan an escape ro!te, an" inform them of yo!r special nee"s# As(
the fire "epartment to help i"entify any fire hazar"s in yo!r home an" e.plain ho- to correct them# Any
areas yo! plan to !se as a resc!e area m!st *e i"entifie" an" agree" !pon *y yo! an" officials from the
fire "epartment# ;earn the fire "epartment1s limitations, an" ma(e fire officials a-are of yo!rs#
uring a Fire
Get Out and Stay Out#
;eave yo!r home as soon as possi*le# :o not try to gather personal possessions or attempt to e.ting!ish
a fire# :o not !se an elevator# $nce o!t, "o not go *ac( insi"e#
Test the Doors Before O+enin! The#
<sing the *ac( of yo!r han", reach !p high an" to!ch the "oor, the "oor(no*, an" the space *et-een the
"oor an" the frame# 5f anything feels hot, (eep the "oor sh!t an" !se yo!r secon" e.it# 5f everything
feels cool, open the "oor slo-ly an" e.it as lo- to the gro!n" as possi*le if smo(e is present#
Stay Lo- and Go#
ra-l lo- an" (eep !n"er the smo(e, if yo! are physically a*le# 5f not, try to cover yo!r mo!th an" nose
to avoi" *reathing to.ic f!mes, an" ma(e yo!r -ay to safety as '!ic(ly as possi*le#
What to Do If You Are Tra++ed#
lose all the "oors *et-een yo! an" the fire# &ill crac(s in "oors an" cover all vents -ith a "amp cloth to
(eep smo(e o!t# 5f possi*le, call the fire "epartment an" tell them -here yo! are locate"# %ignal
resc!ers from a -in"o- -ith a light-colore" cloth#
Sto+/ Dro+/ and Ro''#
5f any part of yo! catches fire, "o not r!n an" "o not try to e.ting!ish the flames -ith yo!r han"s# over
yo!r face -ith yo!r han"s# :rop to the gro!n", rolling over an" over# 5f yo! have a "isa*ility that
prevents yo!r ta(ing these actions, try to (eep a flame-resistant *lan(et or r!g near*y to smother any
flames#
Fire and Sca'd 0re*ention
)oo(in!#
=ever leave the stove !natten"e" -hile coo(ing# 5f yo! nee" to step a-ay from the stove, t!rn it off#
2ear tight-fitting clothing -hen coo(ing, an" (eep to-els an" pothol"ers a-ay from contacting the heat
so!rce# 5f foo" or grease catches fire, smother the flames *y sli"ing a li" over the pan an" t!rning off the
heat# :o not try to !se -ater to e.ting!ish a grease fire# 2hen "eep-frying, never fill the pan more than
one-thir" f!ll of oil or fat# 5f the oil starts to smo(e, it is too hot# <se a thermometer to monitor the
temperat!re of the oil# =ever p!t foil or other metals in the micro-ave# Ma(e s!re the stove is (ept
clean an" free of grease *!il"!p# T!rn pot han"les a-ay from the front of the stove so they cannot *e
(noc(e" off or p!lle" "o-n# hec( the interior of the oven for store" items *efore t!rning it on#
0age 2 of %
E'ectrica' Safety#
>lectric *lan(ets sho!l" conform to the appropriate stan"ar"s an" have overheating
protection# :o not -ash *lan(ets repeate"ly as this can "amage their electrical circ!itry# 5f an appliance
*egins to smell s!spicio!s or emit smo(e, !npl!g it imme"iately# 6eplace all fraye" or *ro(en electrical
cor"s# =ever !se an appliance -ith e.pose" -ires# =ever overloa" e.tension cor"s, an" (eep them o!t
of traffic areas# <se only electrical "evices eval!ate" *y a nationally recognize" la*oratory s!ch as
<n"er-riters ;a*oratories (<;)#
So(in!#
5f choosing to smo(e, consi"er smo(ing o!t"oors# =ever smo(e in *e"# Ma(e s!re that yo! are alert
-hen yo! smo(e# 5f me"ical o.ygen is in !se, "o not allo- smo(ing any-here insi"e the home# 0lace
signage stating that o.ygen is in !se to -arn visitors that smo(ing is not allo-e"# =ever smo(e -hile
!sing me"ical o.ygen, o.ygen enriche" hair an" clothing can '!ic(ly ignite an" *!rn rapi"ly# :o not
smo(e -hile !n"er the infl!ence of alcohol or if yo! are ta(ing prescription "r!gs that can ca!se
"ro-siness or conf!sion# =ever leave smo(ing materials !natten"e", an" e.ting!ish them in large, "eep
ashtrays# hec( aro!n" f!rnit!re, especially !pholstere" f!rnit!re, for any "iscar"e" or smol"ering
smo(ing materials# %oa( the ashes in the ashtray *efore "iscar"ing them#
S+ace &eaters#
,ive space heaters space# 4eep heaters at least 3 feet from any com*!sti*le material, incl!"ing people#
&ollo- the man!fact!rers1 "irections regar"ing operation, f!eling, an" maintenance of yo!r space heater#
:o not !se heaters or other heating "evices to "ry clothing#

&eatin!#
?ave yo!r heating systems an" chimneys chec(e" an" cleane" ann!ally *y a professional# =ever store
f!el for heating e'!ipment in the home# 4eep f!el o!tsi"e or in a "etache" storage area or she"#

Fire+'aces#
$pen fireplaces can *e hazar"o!s@ they sho!l" *e covere" -ith tempere" glass "oors an" g!ar"e" *y a
raise" hearth A to 1B inches high# ?ave chimneys professionally inspecte" an" cleane" ann!ally#
Water &eater Te+erature Settin!#
>ns!re the -ater heater temperat!re is set *et-een 120C-12DC to help prevent scal" *!rns from -ater
coming from the tap#
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The $ffice of the %tate &ire Marshal is an agency of the :epartment of %tate 0olice "e"icate" to helping protect
citizens from fire an" e.plosion thro!gh a comprehensive program of e"!cation, inspection, investigation an"
fire protection engineering# &or more information on fire safety call 1-B00-D2D-3124, log onto o!r -e*site
atE ---#m"sp#org/firemarshal an"/or httpE//face*oo(#com/Marylan"%tate&ireMarshal#
Me"ia contactE +r!ce :# +o!ch, :ep!ty %tate &ire Marshal@ 443-324-3BF3
0age % of %