Hoarding Awareness Month
Your Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters respond to emergency situations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Sometimes, homes pose additional dangers due to the accumulation of personal possessions, commonly referred to as “Hoarding.”
Hoarding is defined as collecting or keeping large amounts of various items in the home due to strong urges to save them or distress experienced when discarding them. Many rooms in the home are so filled with possessions that residents can no longer use the rooms as designed. The home is so overloaded with things that everyday living is compromised.
Hoarding is a mental disorder that can be genetic in nature, triggered by traumatic events, or a symptom of another disorder, such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or dementia. Studies have found that hoarding usually begins in early adolescence and gets worse as a person ages. It is more common among older adults.
Responding firefighters can be put at risk due to obstructed exits, falling objects, and excessive fire loading that can lead to collapse. Hoarding makes fighting fires and searching for occupants far more difficult. Further, those living adjacent to an occupied structure can be quickly affected when a fire occurs, due to excessive smoke and fire conditions.
Having conversations around hoarding is difficult. If you have a loved one who hoards, focus on safety rather than the clutter. Be empathetic. Match the person’s language. If they call it hoarding, then you can call it hoarding. Here are some additional tips to guide the discussion.
Help the residents make a home safety and escape plan. Stress the importance of clear pathways and exits. Practice the plan often. Exit routes may change as new items are brought into the home.
Install working smoke alarms in the home. Test them at least once a month.
Always keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from cooking and heating equipment.
Keep doorways and windows clear for escape in case there is a fire. This will also prevent injuries from falling over excessive personal items.
Stay safe out there!
Photo Provided Courtesy of Mike Hugg Media.