Fire Prevention Week 2014: 'Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives'

Fire Prevention Week is October 5-11, and is being celebrated in Douglas County.

The Douglas County Fire Department kicks off the week with a Kids Workshop on Saturday, October 4th at the Lithia Springs Home Depot on Thornton Road at Interstate 20. Fire Prevention/Education staff will be conducting demonstrations in the Fire Safety House from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. Other fire department vehicles and equipment will be on site for kids and adults to see and enjoy.

During the week, the Fire Department will be visiting numerous schools and organizations on fire safety.

The theme for Fire Prevention Week 2014 is “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives. Test Yours Every Month”. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire. The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51 percent less than the rate for homes without this protection; therefore, having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chances of dying in a fire by nearly half.

The American Red Cross estimates that 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms.

Fire Prevention Week has been declared by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners to hopefully highlight the need for working smoke alarms in homes. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries replaced yearly, or as soon as the alarm emits a low-battery warning sound which usually sounds like a chirping noise.

Smoke alarms also wear out, and should be replaced about every 10 years.

The Douglas County Fire Department regularly schedules educational and informational demonstrations and classes. To schedule a program, contact the Douglas County Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division at 770-920-7484.

— Submitted by Douglas County