Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. Statistics show that smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half, but only if they are working properly.
Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates that many installed smoke detectors aren’t working, usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Working smoke alarms should be used in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it should be replaced. In addition, the right type of smoke alarm should be used. Which is the right type?
Find out at the upcoming Fire Prevention Week Open House, on October 3rd, 2010, in Dublin, Ohio. Fire Marshal Alan Perkins will be offering presentations at Station 92 (4497 Hard Road) to demonstrate how the two main smoke alarms types work and under what conditions they are most likely to be activated, so you are made aware of the deadly smoke or fire before it overcomes you.
Having a working smoke alarm in your home is not a guarantee that it will sound. I can show you why and how to increase the likelihood of it responding. In addition to smoke alarm presentations, our open house event will feature several family-oriented activities and demonstrations at each of our four fire stations.
So join us in celebrating this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With,” by learning more about smoke alarms and fire safety on October 3rd from 1-4 p.m.
Keep your smoke alarms working by:
• Testing them at least once a month using the test button, and making sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
• Replacing the battery immediately if you hear it “chirping,” an indicator that the battery is low.
• Replacing them when they are 10 years old or sooner (if they don’t respond properly when tested). This includes hard-wired alarms also.
• Never removing or disabling them.
Article Credits: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com
Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.
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