What fire hazards affect older people?

The following fire hazards may affect older people:

  • Cooking accidents are the leading cause of fire related injuries for older Americans. The kitchen is one of the most active and potentially dangerous rooms in the home.
  • The unsafe use of smoking materials is the leading cause of fire deaths among older Americans.
  • Heating equipment is responsible for a big share of fires in seniors' homes. Extra caution should be used with alternate heaters such as wood stoves or electric space heaters.
  • Faulty wiring is another major cause of fires affecting the elderly. Older homes can have serious wiring problems, ranging from old appliances with bad wiring to overloaded sockets.

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1. Why are older people at risk?
2. What fire hazards affect older people?