- Author
-
Geiman, J. A.
|
Gottuk, D. T.
- Title
- Reducing Fire Deaths in Older Adults: Optimizing the Smoke Alarm Signal Research Project. Summary Technical Report.
- Coporate
- Hughes Associates, Inc., Baltimore, MD
- Report
-
Summary Technical Report,
May 2006,
88 p.
- Keywords
-
adults
|
elderly persons
|
smoke detectors
|
death
|
signals
|
sleep
|
fire alarm systems
|
risk assessment
|
wakefulness
|
fire safety
|
human behavior
|
risks
|
residential buildings
|
housing
|
tests
|
maintenance
- Identifiers
- characterization of the older adult population; status of fire safety among older adults; response of older adults to the smoke alarm signal; review of potential technical solutions
- Abstract
- Older adults (those 65 years of age and over) have been identified as a high risk group in terms of fire safety. People age 65 and over have a fire death rate more than twice that of the national average and the disparity in fire death rate increases with age. Given that the U. S. Census Bureau estimates that the older adult population will more than double over the next thirty years, there is certainly cause for concern. The use of smoke alarm and signaling systems is associated with a reduction in fire fatalities in the general population-reducing the chances of dying in a fire by 40 to 50 percent when present. However, recent studies suggest that older adults may not fully benefit from conventional smoke alarm systems, particularly during sleeping hours. The tendency for older adults to experience high frequency hearing loss has been attributed as a potential fire safety problem since typical residential smoke alarms have a high frequency signal , between 3 000-4 000 Hertz (Hz). The objective of this project was to assess and optimize the performance requirements for alarm and signaling systems to meet the needs of an aging population. This project was separated into several tasks in order to achieve its objective. First, the older adult population was characterized relative to potential risk factors. Second, a risk assessment of older adults was performed to quantify the potential impact of improving the waking effectiveness of smoke alarms, in terms of the number of potential lives saved. This assessment was based on existing data regarding the characteristics offire victims and fires. Third, the human behavior aspects of the problem were addressed; this work consisted of a sleep study of older adults and the details are presented in a companion report. Both the arousal thresholds from sleep for various frequencies and types of alann signals, as well as the cognitive and physical abilities upon waking were examined in the sleep study. Fourth, a review was conducted of new and promising technologies that may improve the waking effectiveness of smoke alarms for older adults and improve their overall fire safety.