Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarms. That’s the message behind the 2015 Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep!”
Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, Pelham Fire Services is reminding everyone during this year’s Fire Prevention Week (October 4 to 10) about the importance of having working smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Pelham Fire Chief Bob Lymburner. “Half of all 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.”
According to the latest National Fire Protection Association research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three-out-of-five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:
- Install smoke alarms outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
- Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or earlier 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.
- If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
- Call the fire department from outside the home.
If you have anything in your home that produces carbon monoxide such as a gas furnace or fireplace, or an attached garage you must have a CO detector outside your bedroom as well.
For 2015 Fire Prevention Week, Pelham Fire Services is once again hosting a number of activities, including:
- door-to-door visits by the firefighters to check your alarms
- Mossimo’s pizza delivery with a free smoke alarm check on Wednesday, October 7th
- a visit by Sparky the Fire Dog at the Pelham Farmers’ Market on Thursday, October 8th
- a family barbeque at the Fonthill Plaza in front of Giant Tiger on Saturday, October 10th
There will also be raffles for chocolate smoke alarms held during Fire Prevention Week to promote “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep!” Through these educational, family-oriented activities Pelham Fire Services hopes to encourage residents to learn more about the importance of having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom.
For more information, please contact:
Saskia Holditch, Fire Prevention Officer
(905) 892-2607 ext. 202
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