By Monica Zech
SPECIAL TO THE EAST COUNTY CALIFORNIAN
Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”
By Monica Zech
SPECIAL TO THE EAST COUNTY CALIFORNIAN
Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”
Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, Heartland Fire & Rescue is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Heartland Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Rick Sitta. “Almost half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 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 NFPA 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 in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the garage.
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 sooner if they don’t respond properly. When you purchase a new alarm be sure to write the date of purchase on it.
Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it, have a home escape plan, and practice your plan.
If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
Call the fire department from outside the home.
Heartland Fire & Rescue Fire will be hosting two Fire Prevention Week open house events. The first is a Fire Open House & Pancake Breakfast on October 3rd, at 7853 Central Avenue in Lemon Grove. The breakfast is from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., the open house from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The second Fire Open House will be in La Mesa, at 8054 Allison Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meet the fire fighters and see exciting fire rescue demonstrations. Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom. You’ll find additional information on disaster preparedness from Office of Emergency Services and the American Red Cross, and water conservation tips from the Helix Water District. We also thank San Diego Gas & Electric and Mission Federal Credit Union for being our Community Sponsors.
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities, please contact the Fire Department in your community. To learn more about smoke alarms and “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org and www.sparky.org/fpw.
