Fire Safety for Older Adults

Fire & Fall Prevention Program

Safety for older adults is an important focus for the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Older adults have special considerations when it comes to fire and life safety.

According to the Oregon Health Care Association, Oregon is facing a rapidly aging population that economists have called a “Silver Tsunami.” According to the US Census Bureau, by 2050 the number of Americans aged 65 and older will be 88.5 million, and nearly one in five Americans will be 65 and older by 2030.

Falls are the leading cause of hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries among Oregon’s older adults. Our program emphasizes fire and fall prevention. See our resources on this page for great information on how to help the older adults in your life be safer.

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Pill Navigation

NFPA: Steps to Safety

Home Safety Assessment

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Fire Safety

Safety and Health Resources

Recall Resources

Fire Safety

At age 65, older adults are twice as likely as the population at large to be killed or injured by fires. By age 75, that risk increases to three times that of the general population—and to four times by age 85.

Our Partners

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A Healthy You

Oregon Health Authority has many helpful programs and services for aging adults.

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Community Resource

The Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Oregon has information about services to address aging or disability needs.

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Smoke Free

Smokefree Oregon is about setting our state free from the burden of tobacco. It’s about saving dollars—and saving lives.

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Prevent Burns

The Legacy Health Burn Center offers tips to be safe and avoid getting burned at home.

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Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Safety

A typical smoke alarm makes a high-pitched, piercing sound; however, for many people with hearing loss, this sound is beyond their hearing range. The low-frequency smoke alarm is designed for people with high-frequency or high-pitch hearing loss. It provides a loud, low-frequency tone that's easier to hear for people with hearing loss.

This type of alarm has a visual and audible smoke alarm. The smoke alarm may be hard-wired with a battery backup to maintain the audible alarm, or may be stand-alone, battery-powered, or plug-in to an electrical outlet. These alarms use a flashing strobe light to provide a visual alarm, as well as an audible alarm.

A low-frequency (audible), light or text (visual), and shaker (tactile) smoke alarm system. This type of alarm plugs into an electrical outlet and the shaker is placed under the pillow or mattress. It shakes when activated and produces an audible, low-frequency alarm. Some models can visually signal users of activation.