The following is a republished press release and not an article written by The Cortland Voice…to submit a community announcement, email Peter Blanchard at [email protected].
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CORTLAND, N.Y. – The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) has awarded the City of Cortland Fire Department free smoke detectors for installation in the homes of city residents 65 years and older.
The 2015-2016 Smoke Alarms for Older Adults Project is part of a larger state-wide grant from FEMA to the NYSAFC. This initiative will target older adults, those aged 65-plus, as they are one of the groups with the highest risk for fire-related injury and death.
The City of Cortland has a population of 19,059, 12.9% who are 65 years of age or older (roughly 2,450 individuals). Sadly, two of our last three fire fatalities were elderly citizens (February 2014 and December 2015.) Many times we encounter elders on rescue calls or public service calls and find that their detectors are out of date or without working batteries.
This project will allow Cortland Firefighters to install smoke alarms with a 10 year warranty in the homes of seniors. Recipients will also be educated about fire safety and prevention and smoke alarm maintenance. Seniors will also have a chance to talk with firefighters about fire escape planning, an especially important topic for older adults who may have sensory or mobility impairments, and fire department personnel will be able to work with seniors to help them address their own specific needs.
Please contact Fire Captain David Jensen at (607) 423-6908 or [email protected] to arrange an appointment for your smoke detector installation.
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