Fire safety knowledge and practices among residents of an assisted living facility.
BACKGROUND
Assisted living facilities (ALFs) pose unique fire risks to the elderly that may be linked to specific fire safety (FS) practices.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate self-reported FS practices among ALF residents.


METHODS
All residents of a small ALF were surveyed regarding actual and hypothetical FS behaviors, self-perceived fire risk, and FS preparedness.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight ALF residents completed the survey. Thirty-three (58%) individuals reported one or more disabilities. Seven (12%) residents ignored the fire alarm and 21 (35%) could not hear it clearly. Sixteen (28%) residents would attempt to locate the source of a fire rather than escape from the building. Only 24 (42%) residents were familiar with the building fire plan. Twenty-three (40%) people surveyed believed that they were not at risk of fire in the study facility.


CONCLUSIONS
Residents of an ALF may be at increased fire injury risk due to their FS practices and disabilities.
Jaslow
David
D
Temple University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of EMS, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. jaslowd@einstein.edu
Ufberg
Jacob
J
Yoon
Russell
R
McQueen
Clay
C
Zecher
Derek
D
Jakubowski
Greg
G
D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D003625:Data Collection; D005390:Fires; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017751:Safety Management