South Whidbey Island is a wonderful place to retire! The local fire department is happy to assist older members of our community sharpen and strengthen their fire safety skills. We offer CPR and First Aid instruction or can speak with small groups or clubs. We want neighbors to learn how to help each other so they may react quickly in case of an emergency.

The facts speak for themselves: Americans over the age of 65 are one of the groups at greatest risk of dying in a fire. On average, more than 1,000 Americans age 65 and over die in fires. People over the age of 85 die in fires at a rate five times higher than the rest of the population. However, there are a number of precautionary steps older Americans can take to dramatically reduce their chances of becoming a fire casualty.

WHY ARE OLDER PEOPLE AT RISK?

Older Americans are at risk for fire death and injuries for a number of reasons:

• They may be less able to take the quick action necessary in a fire emergency.
• They may be on medication that affects their ability to make quick decisions.
• Many older people live alone and when accidents happen others may not be around to help.