Elderly Man Dies When He Catches Coat On Fire
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
February 12, 2007 1:33pm CST
One of my best friends lost her Father on Feb 7th. A little over two weeks ago, he was cold and went to stand by his oil stove. He caught his jacket on fire but did not know it till he sat down. They tried to put the fire out but found it difficult. They could not get his jacket off. They took a blanket and finally got the fire out. They rushed him to our local ER and he was immediately shipped out to the Pittsburgh Burn Center. At the burn center, they did surgery but kept him asleep due to pain. He was 87 years old. He died in the burn center at about 9 AM.
This was the first year he had the stove. He had been used to a coal heating stove in the past. the temperatures have been below 0 at night for over a week now. Please check on the Elderly while it is so cold. They have a hard time keeping warm.
Teach your children about fires and what to do in case the house catches on fire. Have a plan and a place to meet. Be prepared, it may save your families life.
12 people like this
27 responses
@enchantedemerald (454)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Please accept my sympathy for your friend and her family during this time. I believe in being prepared for anything because not only can it save a life but during a time of crisis being already prepared saves precious and valuable time. Elderly folks need to be checked on during summer, winter, and holiday times. Elderly folks sometimes need a helping hand to prepare for any weather event and they are usually too proud to ask for any help. It only takes a minute to call and check up on them and let them know how concerned we are for their safety and well-being.
3 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I agree only a minute to call and make sure they are ok.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
12 Feb 07
They are having a really hard time right now. My friend's husband needs gallbladder surgery and has missed alot of work over the last month too.
2 people like this
@caribe (2465)
• United States
13 Feb 07
That is so sad to hear. Give my condolences to your friend. At least he didn't have to suffer for weeks or months. Burns are such painful injuries to have. I have been hearing about the bone chilling temperatures in the U.S. It makes me happy that I am in sunny Nicaragua. I really hate cold weather.
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Yes, it is a blessing that he did not suffer for mohths. So it is sunny there? You are so lucky. I am hating winter more each year.
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Oh, Villageanne :( I am so, so sorry to hear about your best friend's father. Yes, we should all check on the elderly in our area in times of cold weather like this! My goodness, my own mother caught one of her coats on fire too years ago trying to stand too near the stove to be warm. We don't have a centrally heated house, and we have to do everything we can to keep it heated when it gets this cold. Thankfully, she noticed the coat before anything disasterous happened. But I can see how this happened, and I'm just so sorry :(
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I am so glad that your mother caught the fire in time. The Elderly get colder than us youger people. Their skin gets so thin and it is truely hard for them to get warm.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Oh my, how tragic. I am so sorry for your friend's loss. Yes, we tend to be so busy with our jobs, children, children's activities, church activities that we forget to check on those who are quietly tucked away...out of sight, out of mind. We must constantly remind ourselves to visit and check on these people who spent their younger years checking on and raising us!
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Feb 07
You are right. It is so very important to check on them. Our neighbor across the road is an elderly couple and they have no phone. Me or my husband goes and checks on them every day.
@mosse2004 (2)
• Kenya
13 Feb 07
I am so sorry about this incidence. Its just last week we burried my brother Inlaw as a result of fire. Pass my condolences to the family. For the rest of us who are lucky to be alive there are a few safety precautions which we can practice at all times when we warm ourselves.
1]Always keep the room well ventlilated if the source of heat consumes oxygen and produces carbon monoxide.
2]Keep combustible materials away from the source of the heat.
3]Always keep fire extinguishers at home, car or wherever we will be heating.
4]never leave the elderly and children warming theselves alone.
5]Always use the right fire extinguisher for the correct fire source i.e never try to put off electrical fire using water rather use carbon dioxide or powder.
There are so may safety measures but for now my condolences go to all who have lost loved ones.
1 person likes this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
12 Feb 07
that is so sad and tragic ...poor guy ...yes it has been extremly cold this year and many of the older folks don't have good heaters or air conditoners for in the summer ...the moral of this whole story is just like you say check on them they are people who need things too ,they just have too much pride to ask or to even tell others about the condtions...fire saftey is a great way to have fun with your kids while you are teaching them things to do in case of a fire ...they love it ...
3 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I think often we are just so wrapped up in our own little world that we forget the Elderly. You are so right about them having pride.
1 person likes this
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I am so sorry to hear about your friend who lost her father. This was very sad to hear and I am sure she is hurting very badly right now. We do need to check on the elderly around us when it is cold to make sure they are safe and are keeping warm during the winter seasons as well as during the warmer months to make sure they are cool enough. Very good suggestions at the end that you made. It is very important for all of us to know about fires and how to handle these types of situations.
1 person likes this
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
13 Feb 07
This is most tragic and I am so sorry for your friend's loss. If there is anyone in the world that can give her comfort, you are the one. ~Donna
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
12 Feb 07
This is a very sad story to think that he was only trying to keep himself warm . I am very nervous of fires as our house burned down in the middle of the night and we woke up to a fire so we have a plan mapped out for our children on what they are supposed to do and I have even talked to my three year old . Not sure if she understands me but I figure it can't hurt anything .
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Feb 07
It is a sad story. I am glad you have a plan, that is so important. I think your 3 year old will understand.
@benbenbear (2)
• China
13 Feb 07
Bad news.I am so sad.Although there is no elderly man in our family.All of us should take care it.Thanks the alert.
By the way,what is the "ER" stand for in "They rushed him to our local ER"? Thank you !
1 person likes this
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
13 Feb 07
How sad, if only they dropped him on the floor and rolled him instead of trying to get the coat off. They lost valuable time. We were all taught the fire safety rules, lets remind our children these lessons. And I agree, make sure you check on the elderly often during freezing ( and in the summer) temps.
1 person likes this
@resasour (378)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Aww.. That is so sad. I hope his family is coping ok. I will say a prayer for your best friend and her family.
It really is terrible how many accidents happen during the coldest part of the winter due to heating devices.. Yes, the elderly are more prone to heat and cold both. I guess that is partly because our skin thins out as we get older..
It is extremely important to check on elderly people when the weather is extreme. Due to fixed incomes and such alot of them can not afford the traditional heating and cooling that most of us take for granted. And instead rely on less stable forms of heat or air..
It really is a shame that he got a new heater and it took his life. Usually it's a story about something old or faulty that starts the fire..
My condolences to his family...
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
13 Feb 07
It is a bad accident that took place. How I wish he had kept to his habit of using that coal fired heating system. You see, the older ones will always find it difficult coping with change. They are usually not keen on adopting the new things introduced into their lives because of the intricacies of learning to cope having them around. some may welcome the change, but definitely, no one can expect that they will immediately be able to adopt the thing with mastery. This is what happened to the man we are talking about here. The truth is, I understand the situation fully as this condition is now creeping into me too, being 53 years old now.
@zhisheng2005 (301)
• China
13 Feb 07
The fire has adcantages and disadvanges, it may let you live marm ,also may let your miserable life
1 person likes this
