By Tina Gorman
Director
Westfield Council On Aging
In 2013, those over the age of 65 accounted for nearly half, 43 percent, of the Commonwealth’s fire deaths. Sadly, in the last few years Westfield has experienced four fire fatalities among the city’s older population and two major senior housing fires. In an effort to prevent future tragedies, two years ago the Westfield Council On Aging partnered with the Westfield Fire Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal on an initiative that we dubbed, “Retire the Fire!” With support from the Westfield News, we are once again launching a weeklong fire prevention and safety campaign for our city’s older adults, through media attention and educational news articles.
Our first goal is to make sure that older adults in Westfield have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. Forty percent of the fire deaths that occur each year take place in homes without working smoke alarms. Massachusetts law requires certain types of smoke detectors based on the year that the home was built. Courtesy of the Westfield Fire Department, specific written guidelines are available at the Senior Center for homes constructed prior to 1975, between 1975 and 1997, and those built after 1997. Discount coupons are available at the Senior Center for the city’s seniors needing to purchase a detector. In addition, grant funding to the city will allow for a limited number of detectors to be purchased and installed at no cost to those Westfield seniors who do not have detectors and meet income eligibility requirements. Those 60 and older may request grant-funded smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors if their annual income is less than or equal to $29,425 for an individual or $39,825 for a couple. Applications may be obtained by calling the Senior Center at 562-6435.
Our second goal involves the replacement of detector batteries. Batteries should be replaced twice a year. A good rule of thumb is to replace the batteries in the spring and in the fall when we change our clocks. With daylight saving time on the horizon this weekend, now is the perfect time to attend to this task. Unfortunately, many older adults cannot and should not replace the batteries themselves. Most detectors are installed in the ceiling of a room and the use of a ladder is necessary for battery replacement. For safety reasons, older adults should enlist the help of relatives, friends, and neighbors to change the batteries in their smoke alarms. If such assistance is not available, seniors can call the Council On Aging at 562-6435 and a reliable volunteer will gladly help.
Our third goal is to educate the public about fire prevention and safety specifically geared toward older adults. Toward that end, the Westfield News will publish a series of articles throughout the week on those topics that are most pertinent to this unique population. In addition to the articles, informational brochures and handouts are available at the Senior Center at 40 Main Street.
During the week, residents of Westfield will see “Retire the Fire!” flyers hung throughout the city. Buttons with the “Retire the Fire” slogan will be worn by the Council On Aging staff, seniors, and our community leaders. Both are gentle reminders that fire safety for Westfield’s older adults is a personal, family, and community effort. Take the time to check on your older relative, friend, or neighbor. Volunteer to drive them to the store to purchase a smoke detector or help by changing the batteries in their smoke alarms. After four major fires in Westfield in the last few years involving older adults, it is high time that we all help to “Retire the Fire!”
