Although the Campbell River Fire Department work hard to prevent fires from occurring throughout the entire year, they would like to remind everyone to pay a little extra attention during Fire Prevention Week 2014, taking place Oct. 5 to 11.
This year’s theme is “working smoke alarms save lives – test yours every month!”
According to the latest National Fire Protection Association research, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths are a result of fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms – and working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half.
“In a fire, seconds count,” says fire chief Ian Baikie. “Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out of the home.”
Tips for installing and maintaining your smoke alarm:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Connect all smoke alarms so that when one detects smoke, they all sound the alarm.
- Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they have been in service for 10 years, or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
- Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it. Make it part of your home fire escape plan!
- Consider upgrading hard-wired 120 volt alarms to models with a battery back-up for power outages.
- Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least annually.
– Contributed by Campbell River City Hall.
