Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death or injury.
October is Fire Safety Month, an appropriate time for everyone, but particularly seniors and those who look after them, to take some fire precautions. The risk of fire death for Americans age 65 and older is three times greater than the risk for adults under 65. Heating sources, such as furnaces and space heaters, cooking and smoking are among the leading causes of fires in the home. Apathy and a lack of information contribute to the high rate of fire-related death and injury in the older population. In this country, fire kills more people than all natural disasters combined.