Preparing for Fire Emergencies with Your Aging Loved One

By James Bennett | October 2, 2018 |

Fires occur suddenly and can very quickly get out of control.
Each year more than 3,000 people die in fires, with elderly adults being at the highest risk. Seniors with mobility issues and cognitive functioning decline are even more vulnerable than other older adults. Making a fire emergency preparedness plan with your senior is a vital step in protecting your parent from the potentially devastating consequences of a fire in their home.

Caregiver in Greenville SC: Fire Safety

Use these tips to prepare for fire emergencies with your aging loved one:

-Establish a meeting place. There should be a spot a safe distance from the home where your parent knows to go if there is a fire. Not only is this a place for everyone in the home to meet at in order to confirm they are all safe, but it also allows you to quickly check on your parent if a fire occurs when they are alone. Simply tell the responders to check at the meeting spot and if your senior is not there, they are still inside.

-Establish and practice escape routes. Your parent should know how to get out of the house quickly and efficiently from all rooms. There should be at least two different routes so your parent can utilize an alternative if one is blocked. Practice these routes frequently so your parent can use them promptly if a real emergency occurs.

-Post notices. Your parent might not be able to get out of the house quickly if there is an emergency due to their challenges and limitations. Make sure those responding to the fire know your parent is inside by posting a notice on the doors or windows near the doors. These should be large, readily visible and announce the presence of a senior, as well as any animals who may be inside. This prompts the responders to search for your senior and their pets when fighting the fire.

-Make them visible. If your parent is trapped in a room during a fire, they need to be visible for responders to find. Brightly colored fabric or an emergency banner held out of a window can mean the difference between surviving the fire or not.

-Practice get out, stay out. Having fire extinguishers throughout the home is a basic element of fire safety, but your parent should know they should only attempt to use one of these devices if the fire is very small and contained. If the fire is larger, spreading, or does not quickly end with the extinguisher, your parent should get out of the house immediately, and not re-enter.

Being a family caregiver means making choices for you parent that will help them to manage their needs and experience the highest quality of life possible. One of the best decisions you can make is to introduce home care. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your elderly parent on a schedule that is right for their needs, as well as for the care you already give them.

This provides continuous, reliable access to care and support designed specifically to help your parent manage their health issues, cope with challenges and limitations, and stay more active and engaged in the world around them. From transportation and mobility support to meal preparation and medication reminders, they can help with personal care needs and activities of daily living, these customized services allow your parent to age in place comfortably, confidently, and safely.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Greenville SC, please contact the caring staff at Upstate Home Care Solutions today. Call (864) 527-0455

Source:
Redcross.org/is-your-home-a-fire-hazard.html
Redcross.org/if-a-fire-starts.html

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James Bennett

Owner at Upsate Home Care Solutions

James Bennett is a native of Taylors, SC. A graduate of Riverside High School, he attended Clemson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Packing Science. Upon graduation, he commenced on a career path in food manufacturing with Nestle Frozen Foods (1999 – 2008) and Country Fresh, Inc. (2008 – 2011). When James was only 12, his father, at the age of 37, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).With both an ailing father and a grandmother suffering from several medical conditions, James Bennett and his family were able to unify and provide their loved ones with the home care they needed. Their family structure and consistent schedule were key aspects in providing care. Unfortunately, not all families have the structure, resources, or flexibility to provide the home care their loved one desires. James understands the difficulties families and caregivers encounter while providing and caring for loved ones. A loving son, husband, and father who understands the need to help families, James created Upstate Home Health Care Solutions, LLC in 2011 to fill in the gap for families who need caring individuals to assist with a loved one’s home care needs.

• Greenville Chamber of Commerce Minority Business of the Year 2017
• Greenville Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) Program participant 2017
• Greenville Chamber of Commerce MBA Excellence Award Recipient 2017
• Featured on the cover Upstate Business Journal June 2016
• Community Works Economic Impact Award 2016
• Board Member of Ten at the Top (TATT) and Fire Pit Ranch (FPR)
• Member of Upstate Senior Network, Greenville & Spartanburg Chapters
• Member of the Healthcare division of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce
• Member of the Better Business Bureau
• Staff member of Palmetto Boys State sponsored by the American Legion
• Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.