Wyckoff FD Holds Fire Safety Seminar Stop & Shop

Wyckoff Stop & Shop Store Manager, John Encke loos on as Wykckoff Firefighter Heather Pruim demonstrates how a smoke alarm works to Pre-K students from the Wyckoff Family YMCA. Stop & Shop hosted a fire safety seminar during which the Wyckoff Fire Fighters explained to the youngsters that it is important that their families change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when daylight saving time begins.

The Wyckoff Fire Department held a fire safety seminar at the Wyckoff Stop & Shop. The Firefighters spoke to Pre-K students and their parents from the Wyckoff Family YMCA about the importance of changing batteries in their family smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in conjunction with the start of Daylight Saving Time which will begin at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 10th.

Battalion Chief Joseph Alvarez, of the Wyckoff Fire Department says, “It is a simple life-saving habit. Change the batteries when you change your clock!”

Stop & Shop provided free batteries to 250 customers in support of the Fire Department’s effort to encourage residents to change the batteries in their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. “Stop & Shop is very pleased to be able to work with the Wyckoff Fire Department to get the word out that changing the batteries in our smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms can save lives in the case of an emergency,” said Stop & Shop Wyckoff Store Manager John Encke.

Battalion Chief Alvarez thanked Stop & Shop for hosting the program. “Proper installation, operation, and maintenance of smoke alarms reduce the risk of property damage, injuries, and death. You can install a smoke alarm that has a sealed-in battery that will last 10 years,” said Alvarez. “In addition to smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms should also be checked this weekend. Carbon monoxide is the invisible killer—it’s a colorless, odorless gas and it can kill within minutes.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 42 percent of households report having a working carbon monoxide alarm.

The Wyckoff Fire Department recommends that:

• Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms.
• Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once a month to make sure they are working.
• Have a fire escape plan and practice it with your family.
• A smoke alarm can’t save lives if everyone doesn’t know what to do when it sounds. Have two ways to get out of each room and set a pre-arranged meeting place outside.
• Children and the elderly can sleep through the sound of a smoke alarm and not hear it go off, so a caregiver needs to be prepared to help others get out of the house.
• Once you are out of the house, stay out.