14/11/20 - Annotated Summary (First Draft)

SINTEF. (2008). Elderly People Require Better Fire Prevention, Report Finds. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081117082237.htm

In this article, SINTEF (2008) explained the potential fire protection measures that could be taken to protect occupants in residential fires. A study was made on Norwegian fire statistics and how the elderly were represented in those figures. The results showed that in Norway, an average of 18 individuals aged 70 and above fall victim to residential fires annually, with the number set to increase to around 38 by 2050 without a fire protection campaign. To address this, the article recommends the adoption of measures such as improved frequency of electrical installation inspections, home fire alarms and stove guards. It is further highlighted that if fire alarms were to be universally adopted, about 3 to 6 lives a year would be saved. This shows that residential fire safety can be improved through the widespread adoption of fire protection measures.

This article also provides useful information for our research project on the obstacles that challenge the widespread adoption of fire protection measures. The argument against the adoption of such measures is often cost, as touched on by the article. Highlighting the financial savings “in terms of lives saved, fewer personal injuries and reduced material damage,” to be seized may persuade people to think otherwise. Whilst the research in the article was done in a Norwegian context, parallels can be drawn between the ageing populations of Norway and Singapore. Consequently, this article still provides relevant information on fire protection measures that could be undertaken to protect occupants in residential fires, a specific focus of our research project.