Group items tagged

The fire death rate among people over the age of 65 is twice as high as the national average, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA). In addition, the fire death rate among people between ages 75 and 85 is three times the national average and after age 85, it increases to four times the national average. These statistics are especially alarming when researchers estimate that by 2030, the 65 and older population will exceed 70 million people.

Because many users of such aged appliances are elderly, the ministry had to think of an effective way to warn them of the dangers of using electrical appliances far beyond their service life. The medium the ministry chose was the kairanban circular notice, a traditional system of passing information from house to house in a neighborhood in which an advisory flyer is attached to a clipboard and passed among residents, who stamp it with their seal or sign it to indicate they have read it. The ministry has distributed 3.5 million flyers to local governments so they can be circulated right away. About 50 million households are expected to see the flyer.

AROUND 40 per cent of Northern Ireland's fire appliances are technically obsolete at more than 10 years old, with two veteran engines approaching their second decade in service, Government figures have revealed. Statistics show 46 engines out of the total fleet of 111 are at least 10 years old.