After two disabled Stokes County residents died in house fires within a week, firefighters are placing an increased emphasis on a year-old program that helps emergency workers identify homes occupied by the disabled.
On Halloween night, an 84-year-old blind woman died after her home caught on fire and firefighters were unaware anyone was inside.
"Last year, we didn't have any fatalities since March when we started working here, that I know of," said Stokes County Assistant Fire Marshal Jeff Whitaker. "In 2009, we had two in Stokes County, within just a week."
Whitaker hopes other families can learn from those tragedies by placing special stickers on the windows of homes where someone who is physically challenged lives.
"We want to come in to your residence and place these stickers for the physically challenged so that emergency responders will know that you live here," he said.
Jack Hicks, a neighbor of the woman killed Halloween night, said he'll get his sticker soon.
"I'd get out one way or the other, I hope. But you never know," he said.
In order to be eligible for the program, you must be either bedridden, hearing impaired, blind, handicapped or obese.
"With this sticker on the window, the fireman would know as soon as they drive up that this is someone with a physical challenge," said Whitaker.
On Halloween night, an 84-year-old blind woman died after her home caught on fire and firefighters were unaware anyone was inside.
"Last year, we didn't have any fatalities since March when we started working here, that I know of," said Stokes County Assistant Fire Marshal Jeff Whitaker. "In 2009, we had two in Stokes County, within just a week."
Whitaker hopes other families can learn from those tragedies by placing special stickers on the windows of homes where someone who is physically challenged lives.
"We want to come in to your residence and place these stickers for the physically challenged so that emergency responders will know that you live here," he said.
Jack Hicks, a neighbor of the woman killed Halloween night, said he'll get his sticker soon.
"I'd get out one way or the other, I hope. But you never know," he said.
In order to be eligible for the program, you must be either bedridden, hearing impaired, blind, handicapped or obese.
"With this sticker on the window, the fireman would know as soon as they drive up that this is someone with a physical challenge," said Whitaker.
