By Joseph Miranda
Community Relations Officer
Chicago Fire Department

For the past few years there has been increased attention focused on the rise of our senior citizen population. According to the Census Bureau statistics, the numbers are as follows: In 1990, the 65 + older population was 31,080,000, (12% of total population). The projection for the year 2000 is 34,710,000, which is an increase of 3-7% each year. In Chicago the senior population is more than 400,000, in Illinois there are over 2 million seniors.

As our senior population increases, so do senior related incidents. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, older Americans are at high risk of death and injuries due to fires.

Americans over the age of 65 represent over 1,000 fire related deaths each year. People over age 80 die in fires at a rate 3 times higher than the rest of the population.

According to the National Fire Protection Association statistics, adults age 65 and older are twice as likely to be killed or injured from fires or falls, compared to the population at large. (At the age of 85, it is four times as likely).

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show that 30% of Americans, age 65 and older, are involved in falls each year. Some are fatal, many seniors are left permanently disabled.

As Public Educators, we realize that special programming is in order. Here in Chicago we are at the forefront with a newly created senior fire safety curriculum geared for our older citizens in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association. Areas covered in the curriculum are:

• 15 behaviors and messages to help reduce deaths and falls.
• Fire safety videos geared for their age bracket (in English and Spanish).
• Fire safety literature.
• Free smoke detectors for the elderly.
• Group training on Fire Safety and Fall Prevention.
• Senior Fire Academy with Certification.
• Hands on training.