MySafe:LA, the Los Angeles-based fire and life safety unit of The Safe Community Project has expanded its fire and life safety programs to include older adults. “Older adults are often forgotten when it comes to fire and life safety,” MySafe:LA Executive Officer David Barrett said. “Today, this segment of the population lives longer than ever before, but is at highly increases risk of injury or death from fire.” National statistics indicate that older adults (55 years +) are more than two times more likely to die as a result of fire than other segments of the population.

“The MySafe:LA Older Adult Program has been crafted specifically to the needs of older adults,” MySafe:LA Public Information Officer Todd Leitz reports. “We teach them how to interact with their neighbors, when to shelter in place, how to properly communicate with 911, and generally how to increase their sense of security and knowledge.” All participants receive custom GO bags that contain safety information, storage for medicines, help signage, and other emergency-related content.

The Older Adult Safety program is funded by a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from FEMA. MySafe:LA is a unit of The Safe Community Project, a 501 (c) (3) public benefit corporation.