What’s scary about fires is that they usually come without warning and they spread fast. Worst, they come when you’re at your most vulnerable, that is, while you’re sleeping, or home alone or on a trip somewhere far.
For seniors with somewhat limited range of motion and impaired reflexes, it becomes doubly hard—even life threatening. Whether you are a senior living independently or a caregiver concerned about your beloved senior’s safety, you should observe fire safety measures to a tee before it’s too late.
•    Be always one step ahead of the fire season. For firefighters, fire season will be the summer months. During summer, wildfires are common so it would be wise to have the house fireproofed before summer and fix whatever is damaged soon after. Always do routine checkups for fire hazards in and out of your house.
•    Resist your innate packrat attitude. One rule in fireproofing your home: the less you own, the lesser your chances of catching a fire. Clear your house of all things unnecessary—and that includes your yard or lawn as well. Pay special attention to areas where you are supposed to be dashing your way out in case of a fire.
•    Clear your lawn. Maintain a well-cleared lawn by trimming trees and keeping grass at 2 inches minimum. To fireproof your home, you must consider the proximity of your house to nearby trees since they are combustible and can easily catch a fire.
•    Fireproof your lawn. Adding noncombustible materials like rocks and pebbles will make your lawn look nice but at the same time lessen your fire risk.
•    Store highly flammable materials outside of your home. Nowadays, you can buy whole outdoor storage sheds at very affordable prices which you can set up outside of your home. Consider its proximity from your home and store flammable substances such as paint and gasoline in your outdoor shed.
•    Clear the roof. Better yet, clean it. It won’t hurt you—in fact it can save your life—to have it checked regularly. Accumulated dead branches, leaves and other hazardous materials can bring fire to your home. Check chimneys, shingles and wirings on your roof.
•    Swap candles to rechargeable lamps. If you are using candles to enhance atmosphere of your home then it’s time to seek other alternative, something that is less combustible such as oils and potpourri.
•    Check and test your fire alarms. Some companies offer yearly checks for these alarms, do take advantage of them.