How do we make the elderly aware of unsafe behaviours that can lead to fire? Margo Karemaker is conducting research for the NIPV on behavioural change among the elderly in the context of fire safety. The research shows that elderly people often know that there are certain risks in their homes, but are not always aware that their behaviour can influence it.
Statistics show that the elderly are a high-risk group when it comes to house fires. For instance, accidents are more likely to occur because bodily functions have declined and the group is less likely to perceive incipient fires. The Netherlands Fire Brigade has been campaigning for years to raise awareness together about fire risks and to help each other make our living environment more fire-safe.
Twente Safety Campus
For Margo Karemaker’s research, a number of rooms have been set up at the Twente Safety Campus in Enschede. Here, elderly people are invited to participate in a number of practical exercises. Familiar scenarios were created, such as distractions while cooking (fire in the pan), charging a tablet (in the sofa) and using and overloading extension cords.
To highlight the risks of these scenarios, FireWare was asked to help think about how to stage them. The trainer can easily activate the scenarios of a smouldering sofa due to overheating from charging a tablet, a pan fire with smoke and an overloaded extension cord to raise awareness among the elderly.
More examples of staging everyday incidents by FireWare? Then take a look at our portfolio.
