Mattresses in the home made before 1973 should be replaced. Older Americans are also vulnerable to fire for several other reasons. They may be less able to take quick action in a fire emergency. Or they may be on medication that affects their ability to make quick decisions. Others live alone and simply have no one to help out when fire-related accidents happen.
Children are one of the highest risk groups for death or injury in residential fires.
Most children know that playing with matches and lighters is wrong. They hide in closets, or under beds or blankets, and play there, potentially turning a peaceful home into a tinderbox in minutes. Parents need to lock away matches and lighters and throw away old lighters. A child's fascination with fire frequently outweighs his or her judgment. Establishing a fire escape plan is also important, as well as keeping a smoke detector on each floor of your house, because after the kitchen, bedrooms are the most likely places for a fire to originate.