Safety Showcase
Fire Prevention and Safety After TBI
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Due to limitations in cognition, mobility and sensation, people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at an increased risk for injury resulting from fires. People with a TBI may have difficulty solving problems, following instructions or recognizing dangerous situations. These cognitive difficulties, paired with slower mobility, decreased balance and increased reaction times in people with a TBI can lead to potential problems if a fire occurs in the home. Four steps should be taken to ensure the safety of an individual wit ha TBI: prevention, detection, minimization, and evacuation.
Prevention
The best way to promote fire safety in the home is through fire prevention. An occupational therapist can work with an individual who has a TBI to develop effective strategies to promote fire safety in his/her daily life. One possible strategy is to implement standard routines for potentially hazardous activities. To be most effective, strategies should be individualized to match a person's abilities. For example, an occupational therapist may work with a person who has a TBI to generate a step-by-step instruction sheet to use as a guide while cooking. An occupational therapist can also recommend modifications to create a safe home for a person with a TBI. The most common modifications include equipping stoves with an automatic shut off feature, moving furniture away from heating units, replacing frayed electrical cords, using lighters instead of matches and candles, or removing clutter from potential evacuation routes.
Detection
In the event of a fire, the most effective means of promoting safety is early detection. Installing smoke detectors throughout the home is key to early detection. The best type of smoke detector is wired directly into the home's electrical system with a battery backup in case of a power outage and should be installed by a licensed electrician. Other more expensive systems are integrated with home security systems and can be programmed to call 911, the fire department or other emergency services. If changing batteries is not a problem, the least expensive alternative is battery powered detector which be installed by family, friends, or even the local fire department.
Minimization: Once a fire has been detected, minimizing the spread is important to enhance safety. Fire extinguishers should be located on each floor of the home with at least one in the kitchen and bedroom. A person with a TBI can use fire extinguishers as long as he/she has been trained in their operation. Otherwise, fire extinguishers should be available for family and friends to operate in an emergency.
Evacuation
If it is not safe to extinguish a fire, then evacuation from the inflamed building is the next step. Family, friends and the local fire department can work with a person who has a TBI to identify and practice using the fire evacuation routes. An occupational therapist can conduct fire drills to work with a person who has a TBI in problem solving through potential barriers when the primary evacuation path is blocked during a fire.
Once fire safety measures have been implemented, establishing a social support network is vital to maintain established prevention, detection, minimization, and evacuation strategies for people with a TBI. Involving family, friends, and the local fire department throughout the fire safety process will decrease the chances that you or a loved one will be injured as the result of a fire.
Tina Butterfield is a recent occupational therapy graduate from Washington University in St. Louis MO. She is currently working at the VA Medical Center's Rehabilitation Research and Development Center in Atlanta, GA. She is involved with home and community accessibility projects for people who have disabilities.
Links for more information on fire safety:
Tempe Fire Department: Fire and Injury Prevention Tips for People with Disabilities
Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association: Wheeling to Fire Safety
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue: Prevention: Fire Safety Topics