MORE than half of people killed in fires in Ireland last year were over the age of 65 with cigarette ash the leading cause of the blaze, new research has revealed.
The Department of Housing will launch a new fire safety campaign tomorrow to make people aware of the most common causes of fires in homes.
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Research from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management reveals that smoking materials, such as cigarette ash, were the most common cause of fire fatality in Ireland in 2023.
And more than 60 per cent of fire fatalities were among those aged 65 and over.
The incidence of serious house fires is much higher for older people living alone.
The Stop Fire Starting campaign will be accompanied by a new €500,000 fire safety education programme in primary schools.
Local authorities will also be given access to a €250,000 community smoke alarm scheme and a €100,000 scheme to put specially adapted fire alarm into the homes of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “People can ensure that they and their loved ones are safe by identifying possible causes of fire in the home.
“Much of fire damage can be prevented by taking time to do routine fire safety checks, particularly at night, and following fire safety advice.
“By being aware of these causes and taking proactive measures, we can keep stop fires starting.”
Elsewhere, Dublin Fire Brigade has issued a major warning over life-saving equipment, which is designed to save someone from having a cardiac arrest.
The Dublin fire crew shared an incredible story of a cardiac arrest survivor as they launched a new public access defibrillator in a housing estate area.
CARDIAC ARREST
Earlier this summer, Kevin Boylan collapsed after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest and quick-thinking Garda Sgt Will Garbutt was quick to perform CPR.
While the cop was performing CPR on Kevin, the bystanders rushed to the local GAA club to retrieve an AED to bring back to Kevin.
AED is short for Automated External Defibrillator, which analyses the heart’s rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
Within minutes, the members of Tallaght CFR and Dublin Fire Brigade arrived on the scene due to their swift actions and the use of a defibrillator.
Due to the community’s help, Kevin’s heart was restarted, “giving him a second chance at life”.
PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATOR
On Tuesday, a moving ceremony was held at Watergate Estate in Tallaght to launch a new public access defibrillator, which was donated by Kevin to pay his thanks to Tallaght Community First Responders.
The community first responders are now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, meaning they’re available to respond to someone in need at any given time.
A spokesperson for Tallaght CFR said: “An AED is designed for use by anyone.
“The device will prompt the user on what steps to take in a cardiac emergency, you do not need any specific training to use these devices.”
