Fire Prevention Week runs October 5 to 11 and this year鈥檚 campaign, Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month, focuses on the importance of having working smoke alarms and checking them regularly.
It is something the Township of 91原创 Fire Department hopes residents take very seriously.
鈥淪moke alarms can mean the difference between life and death,鈥� said Township Public Fire and Life Safety Educator Krista Barton, who notes that about two thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes where there is no smoke alarm or the alarm doesn鈥檛 work. 鈥淲orking smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire by half. Smoke alarms detect and alert people to fire in its early stages, giving them the time needed to escape safety.鈥�
Smoke alarms have the power to save lives, but people have to be diligent and test them regularly: 鈥淭hey can鈥檛 do their job if we haven鈥檛 done ours,鈥� she said, adding that smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms must be replaced every seven years.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odorless gas that can be harmful or deadly if even a small amount of it is inhaled.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 smell or taste CO, so maintain and use fuel-burning appliances correctly, watch for warning signs of it in your home, and know what to do if you suspect CO is present,鈥� Barton said. Warning signs of CO poisoning include unexplained headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, stumbling, and fainting. Children, elderly people, and those with chronic disease may be more susceptible to CO poisoning.
If you suspect CO in your home, open all the doors and windows, turn off any suspect appliances, leave the house, and get everyone into fresh air immediately. Call 911 and your gas utility to check carbon monoxide levels, seek medical attention, and have a licensed gas contractor inspect your appliances.
Here are some tips from the Township of 91原创 Fire Department that will help keep residents safe year-round:
Smoke Alarms
路 Install smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
路 For best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds they all sound.
路 An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, using both types of alarms or a combination ionization and photoelectric alarm are recommended.
路 Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet (three meters) from a cooking appliance.
路 Smoke alarms should be tested monthly using the test button.
路 Replace the batteries once a year. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (life-long) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire unit right away.
路 Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These alarms use strobes lights to wake the person. Vibration notification appliances, such as pillow or bed shakers, are also available and are activated by the smoke alarm.
Carbon Monoxide
路 Install CO alarms where you can hear them while sleeping, near bedrooms on each floor of the home.
路 Place the alarm at least 4.5 meters away from sources of heat or humidity such as furnaces and vents, bathrooms, and cooking appliances.
路 To prevent false alarms, don鈥檛 install the alarm in an attached garage or carport or near the door from the house to the garage.
路 Test your CO alarm at least twice a year.
路 Replace the batteries annually.
