Fire Protection
Research Foundation issues report on walking effectiveness of smoke
alarms for older adults...Older
adults less likely to hear standard alarm
While the use of smoke alarms and
signaling systems is associated with a reduction in fire fatalities
in the general population—reducing the chances of dying in a fire by
40 to 50 percent when present, a recent study suggests older adults
(those 65 years of age and over) may not fully benefit from
conventional smoke alarm systems, particularly during sleeping
hours. With support from the U.S. Fire Administration’s Fire
Prevention and Safety grants program and the alarm industry, the Fire Protection Research Foundation
undertook a study in 2005 to assess the performance requirements for
alarm and signaling systems to meet the needs of an aging
population.
Risk assessment and
human behavior studies were undertaken, as well as a review of new
and promising technologies that may improve the waking effectiveness
of smoke alarms for older adults and improve their overall fire
safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
older adults are more than twice as likely to die in a home fire as
the average person. On average, 800 older adults die in home fires
each year.
Results
The
results showed that under comparative test conditions, the high
pitched signal typical of that used in U.S. smoke alarms performed
the most poorly of the alternative signals tested. The results also
indicate that a male voice alarm is not suitable for older adults.
Conclusions
The
study concluded that the high frequency alarm signal that is
typically used in current smoke alarms should ultimately be replaced
by an alternative signal that offers significantly better waking
effectiveness across the general population, once the nature of the
best signal has been determined. The Research Foundation is
currently undertaking additional research on this topic. While this
research is ongoing, the study recommended the use of interconnected
smoke alarms in bedrooms to provide the maximum potential benefit.
The report further stated that proper use and maintenance of smoke
alarms is also critical to realizing the benefits of smoke alarms.
The
Fire Protection Research Foundation
plans, manages and communicates
consortium-funded research on a broad range of fire safety issues in
collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world. The
Foundation is an affiliate of NFPA.
NFPA has
been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and
life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the
international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide
burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing
and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and
education.
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