SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Fire Department will focus on its to raise awareness about fall prevention and fall-related injuries in older adults.
The SFD said 30 per cent of people over 65 years old are involved in falls each year, some being fatal, while others are permanently disabling, often causing loss of mobility or independence.
Remembering When is a program designed by the National Fire Prevention Association that uses nostalgia to promote eight fire-safety and eight fall-prevention messages.
The program aims to help older adults eliminate fire and fall hazards so they can stay in their homes as long as they would like. Through the program, older adults are also taught what to do in the event of a fire and how to get up off the floor if they have fallen and are not hurt. SFD responded to 1,285 lift assist requests last year.
SFD Community Relations Co-ordinator Dori Krahn said various factors cause falls that can happen anytime and are preventable.
“The Remembering When program allows us to connect with older adults, help them identify risks in their homes, and provide them with resources to improve their fall-prevention efforts,” said Krahn.
“The program’s purpose is to ensure the safety of our older population and help them live healthy, active, and independent lives.”
SFD partnered with the Saskatoon Council on Aging using follow-up phone calls, group presentations and home visits through the Remembering When program.
This level of personalized fire and fall prevention ensures that each individual receives information relevant to their specific living situation and lifestyle. Group presentations or home visits can be booked by phone at 306-975-7715.
SFD has recently expanded its fall prevention efforts to include online training for personal care home staff. The training encompasses seven modules, each followed by a quiz.
The training aims to help continuing care aids understand what actions they can take or encourage the residents to take so that fires and falls can be prevented. The training is available at .
For more information about the Remembering When Program and fall-prevention tips, visit .
