NFPA: Older adults more likely to be killed, injured in home fires
Adults older than 75 are nearly 3 times as likely to die in a home fire than all other age groups, and the risk increases by more than 3.5 for people older than 85, according to a new report (.pdf file) from the National Fire Protection Association. Between 1980 and 2007, the percentage of people 65 and older killed in home fires increased to 29 percent from 19 percent.
Additional findings from the report:
- Between 1980 and 2007, the home fire death rate for children younger than 5 declined to 9 percent from 18 percent. However, this age group is still 1.5 times as likely to die in a home fire than the general population.
- People 20-34 have a fire injury risk 28 percent above average.
- People 35-49 have a fire injury risk 17 percent above average.
- Males have a 29 percent higher risk of fire death and a 16 percent higher risk of fire injury than females.
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