SMOKE ALARM/EMERGENCY EGRESS DEVICE FOR OLDER USERS

OLDER ADULTS ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK FROM RESIDENTIAL FIRES. FOR THOSE AGED IN THEIR MID-60'S AND OLDER, DEATH RATES FROM FIRES AND BURNS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN FORTHE GENERAL POPULATION. FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, OLDER RESIDENTS MAY HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY DETECTING AND ESCAPING A FIRE. RESIDENTIAL SMOKE ALARMS HAVE PROVEN TO BE A VALUABLE MEANS OF REDUCING THE RISK OF FIRE INJURY, AND OLDER ADULTS MAY BE PRESUMED TO DERIVE PARTICULAR BENEFIT FROM THESE DEVICES. UNFORTUNATELY, CURRENT SMOKE ALARMS AREPOORLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER PEOPLE. THE PROJECT OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND INDEPENDENCE OF OLDER RESIDENTS BY DEVELOPING A COMMERCIALLY VIABLE FIRE-SAFETY PRODUCT FOR OLDER USERS. ITWILL ADDRESS THE CAPABILITIES AND BEHAVIORS OF OLDER POPULATIONS SO AS TO REDRESS THE SERIOUS DESIGN INADEQUACIESOF PRESENT SMOKE ALARMS, AND ALSO EXPAND THE CURRENT FUNCTIONS SO AS TO FACILITATE FIRE EGRESS. VARIOUS COST-EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS ARE NOW POSSIBLE. FURTHER, IT MAY BE FEASIBLE TO INCORPORATE ASPECTS OF A PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM AT RELATIVELY LITTLE COST, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY TO THE USER.