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Safety for seniors
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| Columbia County firefighter Andy Herndon installs a smoke detector in Josephine Fleming’s living room. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
County fire department initiative brings fire safety devices to local seniors
By TONY BRITT
tbritt@lakecityreporter.com
WINFIELD — National Fire Protection Association statistics indicate older adults (older than 65) are twice as likely to die in fires than any other age group. The death rate for those 85 years old and over is four times the national average.
As part of a Columbia County Fire Department initiative, local firefighters are installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, free of charge, in area homes to protect area mature adults from fire-related deaths and injuries.
Columbia County Fire Department Division Chief David Boozer said firefighters are installing the devices in Lake City, Fort White and Columbia County homes as well as some homes on the Columbia/Suwannee County border.
The Columbia County Fire Department received a $4,151 Elders Option grant to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in homes which lack or require replacement devices which are more than 10 years old.
Tuesday morning, Boozer and Station No. 42 firefighters Andy Herndon and Jason Arakian installed smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector in Josephine Fleming’s mobile home.
“I think it’s very good of the fire department to come in and install the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,” Fleming said. “When they told us about the program at the senior services center, I was the first to sign. My detectors have been here for 30 years and I know these (new detectors) are working. When he explained the program to us, I thought it was the greatest thing in the world.”
The Columbia County Fire Department began installing the devices Oct. 7 and will continue installing units until the department’s supply is depleted.
Boozer said the department averages installing the devices in six to eight homes each day.
“The smoke detectors are state of the art and communicate with each other,” he said. “In the event one unit goes off, it talks to the other and activates it. These units will give folks an awareness that something is going on and give them a little start in getting out of the home.”
Boozer said installing the units also benefits the fire department because it allows firefighters the opportunity to visit people’s homes and familiarize themselves with the area and with each resident’s special needs.
He said he was pleased the fire department could offer the service for area seniors.
“I think this is the most awesome thing the department has ever experienced,” Boozer said. “We’re well received by the mature adults and we’re really the ones from this program because we’re able go in their homes, see their living conditions and it makes our guys more aware of some of the potential challenges that these residents might face.”
As part of a Columbia County Fire Department initiative, local firefighters are installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, free of charge, in area homes to protect area mature adults from fire-related deaths and injuries.
Columbia County Fire Department Division Chief David Boozer said firefighters are installing the devices in Lake City, Fort White and Columbia County homes as well as some homes on the Columbia/Suwannee County border.
The Columbia County Fire Department received a $4,151 Elders Option grant to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in homes which lack or require replacement devices which are more than 10 years old.
Tuesday morning, Boozer and Station No. 42 firefighters Andy Herndon and Jason Arakian installed smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector in Josephine Fleming’s mobile home.
“I think it’s very good of the fire department to come in and install the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,” Fleming said. “When they told us about the program at the senior services center, I was the first to sign. My detectors have been here for 30 years and I know these (new detectors) are working. When he explained the program to us, I thought it was the greatest thing in the world.”
The Columbia County Fire Department began installing the devices Oct. 7 and will continue installing units until the department’s supply is depleted.
Boozer said the department averages installing the devices in six to eight homes each day.
“The smoke detectors are state of the art and communicate with each other,” he said. “In the event one unit goes off, it talks to the other and activates it. These units will give folks an awareness that something is going on and give them a little start in getting out of the home.”
Boozer said installing the units also benefits the fire department because it allows firefighters the opportunity to visit people’s homes and familiarize themselves with the area and with each resident’s special needs.
He said he was pleased the fire department could offer the service for area seniors.
“I think this is the most awesome thing the department has ever experienced,” Boozer said. “We’re well received by the mature adults and we’re really the ones from this program because we’re able go in their homes, see their living conditions and it makes our guys more aware of some of the potential challenges that these residents might face.”
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nikki wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:04 AM: