Senior Safety Day is a proven life saver

LACONIA — In conjunction with area fire departments, LRGHealthcare is getting ready for its 15th Annual Senior Safety Day set to take place Saturday, October 17.

Senior Safety Day is a chance for local seniors to have a free home visit from their local fire department where they will supply and change smoke detector batteries free of charge. No need to search for which smoke detector is beeping and trying to figure out how to make it stop...my gosh make it stop! And, balance on that stool or chair no more to try to change out the batteries. LRGHealthcare and your local fire department will get it taken care of.

For 15 years, LRGHealthcare has raised money to provide the batteries and smoke detectors and worked with area fire departments to offer this program. It has helped keep seniors across the region safe and independent in their homes. Last year alone, they visited 300 homes on Senior Safety Day. Participating communities include Franklin, Tilton/Northfield, Sanbornton, Belmont, Hill, Andover, Bristol, New Hampton, Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Laconia, and Gilford.

"Senior Safety Day has proven to be such an important opportunity to partner with our area fire departments for the safety of our seniors," stated LRGHealthcare Community Educator, Melissa Lee. "It gives emergency response workers a chance to get to know their community members at a non-emergent time where they can focus on preventing emergencies. We're making homes safer and more importantly, keeping people safe."

Earlier this year, it was proven that Senior Safety Day is, in fact, keeping seniors safe. At the end of 2014, Gilford Fire Department visited a home to do an inspection on a new oil burner that had been installed. While there, they noticed that the home was lacking in smoke detectors and they recommended to the home owners they get more installed and get signed up for Senior Safety Day. The homeowners took their advice and had their detectors taken care of on Senior Safety Day that November.

Just a few months later, the same homeowners were awakened by one of their smoke detectors. A fire had started around their chimney and wood stove and it was burning fast. They quickly called 911 and a police officer was first on the scene where he forced entry to save the homeowners who both struggle with mobility issues. Thankfully, they made it out safely. The home has since been rebuilt in the same location where the couple continues to live today.

Gilford Fire Chief, Steve Carrier commented, "It's nice to be able to link a save directly back to a program we work on and see the benefits of it."

Smoke detectors are an early warning that you don't want to be without. They are critical to give those in the home an opportunity to get out. But, detectors have to be maintained. Carrier recommends if your smoke detectors are more than 10 years old, they should be replaced. And, general rule of thumb is to change the batteries in your detectors when you change your clocks (twice a year). So, when you fall back or spring ahead, that's the time to change the batteries.

If you'd like to take advantage of Senior Safety Day Saturday, October 17, contact the LRGHealthcare Community Education Department at 934-2060 Ext. 8329. And, remember, this program is free. Deadline to sign up is Friday, October 9.