MOUNT VERNON — Senior citizens 65 and older make up almost 14 percent of the population in Knox County, according to U.S Census Bureau statistics, and that number is on the rise.

“Senior citizens are the fastest growing age group of the American population and also are one of the groups at the highest risk for fire deaths,” said State Fire Marshal Michael Bell. “With education and planning, many of these fire deaths and injuries can be prevented.”

According to the U.S Fire Administration, seniors over the age of 65 are more than twice as likely to be killed in a house fire as the general population. One-third of the fire deaths in this country are people over the age of 60.

“Senior citizens are a portion of the general population that sometimes gets overlooked when it comes to fire safety,” said Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy. “I think even our industry is slightly guilty of taking for granted that the elderly are fire safety conscious. Our industry concentrates on educating the young.”

Older adults, he said, face distinct fire safety risks. Vision, hearing and mobility difficulties are more common in seniors, which can slow reaction times. Because of slower reaction time, the elderly are more likely to accidentally cause fires, and to have difficulty getting out of a burning home.

Capt. Chris Willis of the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District recalled a kitchen fire his department responded to in Apple Valley, where an elderly lady forgot she was cooking and fell asleep. A smoke alarm woke the woman, who was able to escape from the house and call the fire department.

“Thank God there were smoke detectors in there,” Willis said.

Smoke detectors are critical for seniors and others living with diminished mobility or other special needs, according to College Township Fire Capt. Andrew Weber.

“For the elderly, infirmed or other people with special needs, extra smoke detectors are better for early detection,” he said.

“They need to think about placing one on the first floor close to an exit,” Weber said, explaining that someone confined to bed on the first floor, with only a smoke detector outside bedrooms on the second floor, needs more alarms added for better detection.

Firefighters encourage residents who are bedridden or have decreased mobility, as well as those caring for them, to contact their local fire department as a preventive measure, to make firefighters aware of what challenges people living in their districts face.

“Anyone with special needs should contact the fire department, regardless of their age,” said Fredericktown Fire Chief Scott Mast.

He said the department would like to know about any residents in the district who are bedridden, confined to a wheelchair, on home oxygen, or have other special medical needs.

“The fortunate part of being a small department is we know many of the people in our district,” said Weber. “If they make some kind of notification, we can attempt to keep track of that. We do a pretty good job keeping track of residents who have special needs.”

“The fire department should be notified if there’s a special needs person, so we can know if we are to respond to that location,” agreed Central Ohio Joint Fire District Lt. Dan Rott. “It would affect our ability to quickly and safely rescue our victim.”

Weber said when a fire department knows about a resident with mobility issues or other special needs, firefighters can make contact with residents who are more vulnerable in an emergency.

“We can talk to them and make suggestions for safety,” he said.

Family members and others providing care for the elderly or people with medical issues need to remember fire prevention as part of their care plan. Having a portable phone or cell phone within reach, and keeping homes free of clutter which could impede someone’s escape from a fire or stall firefighters entering to rescue someone, are preventive steps with which loved ones can assist.

Friends and family can also help with installing and maintaining smoke detectors, and having and practicing a fire safety escape plan.

Because seniors have been responsible and self-sufficient for decades, caring for those around them, they may find it difficult to request help with such tasks.

Relationships with neighbors can be essential to seniors and disabled persons living alone.

“Let one or two trusted neighbors know this is the room where someone with special needs is sleeping so that when we pull up we’re not wasting a lot of time searching the house,” Weber suggested.

Creating a dialogue with senior friends and family members about safety in general, particularly fire safety, could save a life.

“As busy as younger generations are, time is not made routinely to help elderly neighbors and friends, and they can get overlooked,” Christy said.

Mast agreed.

“This is a demographic group that could fall between the cracks,” he said. “They may be the only one left in a family, with no family nearby. The community needs to look after its neighbors.”