How the Camp Fire Largely Impacted the Elderly Population

In the early weeks of the Camp Fire when devastation blasted through Paradise and many other California towns and cities across the northern parts of the state, many people went missing and others were found injured or even deceased. This unfortunate fact caused turmoil in many lives and now individuals continue to recover from their losses, especially those who have lost loved ones during this difficult time.

Within the first weeks following the Camp Fire, the oldest victim of the wildfire was identified, a 99-year-old who lost her life in her home in Paradise. Other elderly people continued to pop up here and there as they were identified by search-and-rescue teams while loved ones patiently awaited the most devastating and life-changing news. Others still waited for long periods of time until their loved ones could be identified due to the destruction that the fires caused.

If your loved one is elderly and survived the Camp Fire, there is a good chance that they will still receive lasting effects from this wildfire that could have been prevented if proper care had been taken on behalf of PG&E. Today we want to look at some of the health effects that an elderly person could experience due to the fires.

Impacts on the Elderly Due to Wildfires

For those who are 65 and older, wildfires could cause an increase in emergency room visits, according to recent studies. Though many research studies on the same subject that have been conducted in the past suggest that the elderly will not suffer long-term effects due to wildfires, new research shows that this might not be the case. One of the most recent studies followed the 2015 wildfires in California and shows that on dense smoke days where smoke traveled through various areas of California, ER visits by senior citizens actually increased. Some of these visits took place due to extremely serious and life-threatening ailments such as heart issues and strokes.

It is now common knowledge that those who could suffer the most severe impacts from the Camp Fire include extremely young children, particularly infants and toddlers, and the elderly. This is due to the fact that young children’s lungs are not yet fully developed and built to handle the smoke inhalation that can follow one of these natural disasters. Elderly people tend to be affected due to the fact that lung function decreases as you get older. Elderly people are also more likely to be dealing with a pre-existing condition such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases, which means that they could suffer a wide variety of risks at the hands of a horrific fire.

Filing a Claim on Behalf of a Loved One

At Marlene Leiva Law Group, we are equally as concerned about your loved one after they have been exposed to smoke during the Camp Fire. If your loved one has experienced drastic effects due to this exposure and has received a variety of damages, we would like to stand by your side during this difficult time. Whether you have lost a loved one and are looking to file a wrongful death claim or your elderly loved one has experienced the impact of smoke inhalation, we are here for you. Contact us for more information at 415-459-7300.