October is fire prevention month and during October Fire Departments like to educate the general public about Fire Safety and Prevention strategies. In this article I would like to address Fire Safety for people with special needs. I define this group as anyone with a disability and the senior citizen population.
I am a disabled, quadriplegic, firefighter with 15+ years of experience including holding the positions of Captain, Training Officer, and Safety Officer. I have taught fire prevention to small groups, but until I became disabled only touched on fire safety for people with special needs. Due to my disability it is hard for me to type so I have borrowed some information from the U.S. Fire Administration and the NFPA. These are just two of many organizations that have fire resource information.
According to the USFA, U.S. Fire Administration, approximately 4,000 Americans die and 20,000 are injured in fires each year. The risk of death or injury from fire is even greater for people with physical, mental or sensory disabilities. Decreased mobility, health, sight, and hearing may limit a person's ability to take the quick action necessary to escape during a fire emergency. I would like to take a moment to address a special concern.
If a fire occurs in your home, your chances of escape and avoiding injury will depend on how quickly you are able ability to react in an emergency. Alerting the fire department and your ability to hastily either put a barrier between you and the fire by either shutting a door or by getting out of harms way. These simple steps apply to all disabled and able body alike.

People with disabilities are typically fiercely independent but should recognize their own limitations. People with disabilities and do not wish to alter their lives from those of the general public. However, this can lead them to ignore their special fire safety needs. Knowing your physical limitations and allowing potential rescuers to be aware of your needs will increase survival chances. The time to act is now. Contact your local Fire/EMS as well as law enforcementand and advise them of your special needs.

In some cases people with disabilities may need the help of a caregiver to practice proper fire safety precautions. Planning and being prepared for what to do in the
event of a fire is especially important for people who require additional time in order to escape safely.

The key to planning is to know your abilities. Will you need help to escape? Can you hear the Smoke Alarm if it sounds? Knowing the answers to these questions may save your life in the event of an emergency. Be ready to call: Make sure the Fire Department knows of your Disability, and that you may need extra help.

If you need help contact your local fire department's non-emergency line and explain your special needs. They will probably come to your home and help suggest fire escape plan ideas. Many fire departments may perform a home fire safety inspection and offer suggestions about smoke alarm placement and maintenance.
Here are some tips that I have compiled:

Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms:
People with disabilities should be aware of the special fire warning devices that are available.
• Smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally, smoke alarms with a strobe light outside the house to catch the attention of neighbors, and emergency call systems for summoning help are also available.
• Ask the manager of your building, or a friend or relative to install at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home.
• Audible alarms should pause with a small window of silence between each successive cycle so that blind or visually impaired people can listen to instructions or voices of others.
• Some smoke alarms are equipped with large, easy to use testing buttons. Alarms can be tested using a flashlight or a television remote are particularly helpful for people with mobility disabilities.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are tested monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
• Smoke alarms should be replaced every eight to ten years.
Live Near an Exit
Although people with disabilities have the legal right to live where you choose, you'll be safest on the ground floor if you live in an apartment building or muti story home.
• If you live in a multi-story home, arrange to sleep on the first floor.
• Being on the ground floor and near an exit will make your escape easier.
• Mark your address clearly on your home in large reflective numbers so that fire fighters can see it easily from the street.
Plan Your Escape create a Home Escape Plan
• Draw a floor plan of your home on a large sheet of paper or use grid paper.
• Check to make sure you have included every door and window that you can use as an exit.
• Draw all outdoor features or possible obstacles that might keep you from escaping through windows and doors.
• Draw arrows in red to show the best way out of each room.
• Draw arrows in blue to show the second way out of each room.
• Choose a meeting place in front of your home and mark it on the escape plan.
• Practice the escape plan using the best way out of your sleeping area.
• Practice the second way out of your sleeping area.
• Arrange to call 9-1-1 from a neighbor’s house.
• Update the plan as needed.
Note: Know two ways out, so you can escape. Make sure that you and everyone in your family can follow both ways out.
Plan your escape around your capabilities.
Practice helping the Disabled safely escape in the event of smoke filling the house. If they are unable to get down on the floor and crawl safely, they can be dragged along the floor while lying on a blanket. Even a heavy person can be transported relatively easily across smooth floors in this manner. You may have to get a second person to pull the Blanket.
• Know at least two exits from every room.
• Being on the ground floor and near an exit will make your escape easier.
• Close doors behind you if possible.
• If necessary, have a ramp available for emergency exits.
• Unless instructed by the fire department, never use an elevator during a fire.
• If you encounter smoke, stay low to the ground to exit your home.
• Make any necessary accommodations, such as providing exit ramps and widening doorways, to facilitate an emergency escape.
• Practice escaping from every room in the home. The best plans have two ways to get out of each room.
• Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly and that security bars can be properly opened.
Don't Isolate Yourself
People with disabilities have often been excluded from the development and practicing of escape plans and fire safety drills. As a result, their vital input is omitted and their fire safety needs remain unfulfilled. Speak up to ensure that all parties receive the fire safety information that everyone deserves.
• Speak to your family members, care giver, building manager, or even your neighbors about your fire safety plan and practice it with them.
• Consider a home alarm system
• If you must escape through smoke, remember to crawl or stay low, under the smoke if possible and keep your mouth covered.
• Feel doors with back of your hand. Never open doors that are hot to the touch.
• Designate a meeting place outside the building and take attendance.
• Once out, stay out! Remember to escape first, then call 9-1-1
• Ask emergency providers to keep your special needs information on file.
• Notify the Fire dpartment in advance if you use oxygen in the home. Have a portable tank nearby in the event of emergency.
• Keep a phone near your bed and be ready to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number if a fire/emergency occurs.
• Consider using a home alert button if you live alone.
• When staying in hotels insist on first floor accomendations. Also know which way to go in the event of fire. Count the number of doors to the fire escape.

Reduce Fire Risks

Cooking Safety
• Cook when you are alert. Do not cook if you are drowsy or if you feel the effects of alcohol, medication, or other drugs.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothes when you cook.
• Roll your sleeves over your elbows when you cook.
• Keep all items that can burn away from the stove.
• Do not hang a towel on the oven handle.
• Never leave a stove unattended while cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away, even for a moment.
• Keep children and pets away. Create a three-foot safe-zone around the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother any flames.
• Keep handles of the pans turned in.
• Use a timer to remind you when your food is ready. As soon as the timer goes off, turn off the stove.
• Do not move hot water from the stove to the sink. Use ladles or scoops to remove food from boiling pots.
• When you take hot items from the stove or oven, use a cart to transport these items. Never place hot pans in your lap.
• Keep the area around your stove clean.
• Do not allow grease to build up around the stove. Built-up grease can catch on fire.
If There Is a Fire
• If a pan of food catches on fire, keep the lid between you and the fire, as if it were a shield. Slide the lid on top of the pan. Turn off the burner, and then slide the pan to a cooler surface. Call 9-1-1.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire.
Microwave Safety
• Microwaves are intended only for food preparation.
• Never put any metal, tin foil, twist-ties, or silverware in a microwave.
• Only use microwave-safe containers. Microwaves can melt some plastic containers or cause some ceramic and glass containers to break.
• Microwaves heat unevenly, and your food will continue to cook even after the microwave stops. Open all containers carefully to avoid steam burns.
• Consider placing your microwave near a table, so you can move the items quickly from the microwave to the table.
• If you have a fire in the microwave, do not open the door. Turn the microwave off. Call 9-1-1. Get out of the house. Before you use the microwave again, have it serviced to make sure it works properly.
Smoking Safety
• Smoking and smoking materials are the number one cause of fatal home fires. If you smoke, you and your family are at greater risk for fire, burns, and death.
• Never smoke in bed. If a cigarette fire starts in your bed, you are too close to the fire and may not be able to escape.
• Never leave a lit cigarette. Put it out.
• Do not smoke when drinking alcohol or taking prescription medication that makes you drowsy.
• Do not smoke in upholstered chairs. Smoke at a table. Do not use a tablecloth. Keep flammable items (such as napkins) away.
• Keep the smoking area free of clutter.
• Keep lighters and matches where children cannot get them.
• Always use ashtrays that are deep and will not tip over.
• Only use ashtrays to dispose of cigarettes. Do not put trash in them.
• Before you dump cigarette butts in a trash can, pour water on the butts.
• Never smoke in areas where oxygen is being used.
Candle Safety
• Always trim the wicks to 1/4 of an inch before you light them. Long wicks create more smoke, create higher flames, and cause candles to burn unevenly.
• Always put candles on a holder that will not burn. Move them away from things that can burn (curtains, furniture).
• Put candles in sturdy holders that are big enough to collect wax and will not tip over.
• Keep candles at least 4 inches apart. If they are too close together, they may melt each other’s wax or burn improperly.
• Make sure that children or pets cannot reach candles or knock them over.
• No burning candle is safe. Never leave candles unattended. Even jar candles are unsafe because the jar can break and the wick can ignite other materials.
• Blow out candles when you leave a room.
• Do not use candles in your bedroom. You may fall asleep and forget about them.
• If the electricity goes out, always use a flashlight, not a candle.
Electrical Appliances
• Immediately unplug any appliances that spark, smell unusual, or overheat. Replace them or have them repaired.
• Be careful of cords. Do not run over electrical cords with your wheelchair or scooter. You can damage these cords.
• When an electrical cord frays or cracks, replace it.
• Do not put electrical cords or wires under rugs.
• If you use an extension cord, unroll it all the way to keep it from retaining heat. Do not leave it coiled in any way.
• Make sure that lamps and night lights do not touch any fabrics or furniture.
• If you have young children in your home, cover the unused outlets with plastic covers.
• Do not overload outlets.
• Make sure that you place plugs in the proper type of outlet.
• Polarized plugs (one prong is wider than the other) require polarized outlets.
• Three-prong plugs require outlets with three holes to properly ground the plug.
• Never force a plug into an outlet when it will not fit.
• Make sure the area where you charge your wheelchair battery is well-ventilated and clear of debris.
• If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips, do not just replace or reset it. Find out what is overloading the system, and correct the problem. If the overload is not readily apparent, have a licensed electrician check out the circuit.
Fireplace Safety
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heat sources.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothes near open flames.
• Use old, dry wood in your fireplace. New or wet wood is more dangerous.
• Use a fire screen.
• Every year, at the beginning of winter, inspect your chimney for cracks or obstructions.
• Once a year, have a professional clean your fireplace.
Space Heaters Safety
• Space heaters are a fire risk.
• Use only space heaters with a UL label.
• Make sure that your space heater has an automatic switch to turn it off if it falls over.
• Give your space heater 3 feet of space in all directions.
• Keep furniture, bedding, and clothes 3 feet away from space heaters.
• Use the space heater for short periods.
• Do not go to bed with the space heater on.
• Always unplug your space heater when not in use.
• Always use the proper fuel.

Although these fire safety tips are designed for people with special needs, able bodied people can also benefit from these ideas. Letting your fire department know who you are and your special needs will improve your chances of surviving an emergency. I recommend that you advise all your local emergency responders of your special needs. Preparing and planning for emergencies before they happen is the key to safety.