New information campaign “Safe Old Age”

November 2, 2021

Unfortunately, for many reasons, it happens that people of retirement age are left completely alone. For everyone, examples in the EMERCOM reports of pensioners' deaths do not become a warning about possible dangers in the homes of elderly parents. Meanwhile, over time, that once beautiful and cozy parental home can become dilapidated, the foundation can settle, the electrical wiring can wear out, and the main savior from the cold – the stove – may require repair. Living in such a fire-hazardous environment, elderly people are exposed to serious trials and difficulties that they cannot cope with on their own, and procrastination and lost time significantly reduce the chances of rescue. And perhaps, not everyone is able to recognize the huge problem – help and attention from children and relatives to lonely pensioners is simply necessary.

The causes of fires in pensioners' homes are banal: careless handling of fire, operation of faulty electrical appliances, food left unattended on the stove, and others. Loss of vigilance, reduced sharpness of vision, hearing, memory problems – these are factors that can play a fatal role. Repairing a stove, electrical wiring, or installing a smoke detector on their own – all these measures are beyond the capabilities of an elderly person. Extensive preventive work is carried out by EMERCOM employees to bring the homes of "at-risk people" into a fire-safe condition, and the social service also provides assistance. However, the main work should be carried out by the pensioner's children and relatives.

Rescuers are constantly looking for new creative forms of work with the public so that citizens realize the importance of observing safety rules, because it is precisely this way that the foundation of life safety culture is laid. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of fires in the homes of elderly citizens, a new republican information campaign "Safe Old Age" has been developed.

"We cannot treat you to fresh milk instead of your grandmother!" - billboards with such a slogan

will appear on the main streets of regional and district centers, as well as the capital. This is a social initiative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, designed to motivate the population to help their elderly parents and relatives bring their homes into a fire-safe condition: replace wiring, repair stoves, tidy up the yard territory. That this category of people needs care and help will be indicated not only by billboards. Thematic audio and video clips will also in an unconventional way remind the adult generation that we are in an unpaid debt to our parents. And it is within our power to make their lives better, to lend a shoulder in a difficult moment, to support, and most importantly - to take care of safety in a timely manner, to prevent a possible emergency situation. After all, no one can replace a close and dear person.

Presentation events of the information and propaganda campaign will be held throughout the country. Follow the progress of the campaign on the website of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as in the media.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones! In case of an emergency, call 101 or 112!