Current Status of House Fire Deaths among the Elderly

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors leading to house fire deaths among elderly individuals. Fire damage and autopsy results for 66 house fire victims (40 males, 26 females) aged 65 years or more were analyzed. Thirty-nine of these elderly individuals (26 males, 13 females) had lived alone, and 27 (14 males, 13 females) had lived with a spouse or family member. Mean CO-Hb saturation was 52.0% (range: 0-93.0%). In 53 cases, the buildings in which the deaths took place were one- or two-story detached wooden houses (27 victims living alone, 26 victims living with others) and in 9 cases they were wooden apartment buildings or wooden terraced housing (all the victims living alone). The cause of the fire, in 11 of the 27 cases in which it could be identified, was failure to extinguish burning cigarettes. Subjects\u27 general health status related to performing everyday activities was determined in 60 cases. Thirteen of the elderly individuals were generally healthy, however the others had some type of impairment. The most common impairments were non-central nervous system gait disorders (18 cases), such as weakened leg muscles or joint disorders. Alcohol was detected in 5 cases. Therapeutic levels of prescribed psychotropic drugs were detected in 7 cases. Among elderly individuals who die in house fires, reduced motor functions and judgment ability caused by senescence are thought to be major risk factors that lead to a failure to act appropriately during fires, for example not escaping in time