Making your smoke alarm works for you is the highlight of this year’s National Fire Prevention Week.
The Coaldale and District Emergency Services will be teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to educate people on the importance of having smoke alarms that work at home.
According to NFPA, “smoke alarms reduce the risk of death by 54 per cent and approximately three out of five fire deaths that happen at home are either because of no working smoke alarms in the building or no smoke alarms at all. Vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFP Lorraine Carli says, smoke alarms are the first line of defence for a home fire.
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign helps better educate the public about simple but critical steps they can take to make sure their homes have smoke alarms in all the needed locations and that they’re working properly,” Carli says.
Coaldale and District Emergency Services Fire Prevention Officer Captain Steven Yanke adds having these working alarms could be the difference in a home fire because it gives people time to get out safely.
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign is a great way to remind everyone about these messages and to act on them,” Yanke says.
Some tips for smoke alarm safety include having an alarm in every bedroom and areas such as hallways and each floor of the home. Smoke alarms need to “meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities”, they must be tested monthly and must be replaced every 10 years.
Coaldale and District Emergency Services will be hosting an open house on October 9th for this year’s Fire Safety Week campaign, which will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
