Crime & Safety
It's Always a Good Time To Talk About Fire Safety
Fire Prevention Week is right around the corner, but why wait? This year's theme is "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives-Test Yours Every Month"
2014 Fire Prevention Week will be here before we know it (October 5-11, 2014), but it’s always a good time to talk about fire prevention and safety. This year’s theme is Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Test Yours Every Month. Working smoke alarms remain the single most effective means to alert you and your family to a fire in your home. The thing is, they must be maintained.
Many people are lulled into a false sense of security when smoke alarms are installed. Some may assume that because they are new or have a 10-year battery in them, they will not fail. Others think that because they have “hardwired” (electric) alarms, there is no need to test them or replace backup batteries.
The truth is, although they are extremely reliable, we must still make sure they work. Here are some tips or the installation and maintenance of your smoke alarms:
Find out what's happening in Malvernfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
-Test your smoke alarms monthly, according to manufacturer’s instructions.
-Install smoke alarms in the appropriate locations and as recommended by the instructions (there should be a minimum of one smoke alarm on each level of your home including the basement, outside of each sleeping area and in each bedroom.
Find out what's happening in Malvernfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
-Replace smoke alarm batteries every six months when you change your clocks.
-Regardless of type, replace your smoke alarms every 10 years or sooner if they fail to respond when tested.
Most of the fire deaths that occur in a given year happen in the home. Smoke alarms play a huge role in helping to reduce residential fire deaths. So please, do your part. Make sure they are installed where required or recommended, and test them regularly. The life you save could be your own!
Please contact us at firemarshal@eastwhiteland.org should you have any questions about smoke alarms or any other fire safety related topic. You can also read more about this and other fire safety topics at the National Fire Protection Website: http://www.nfpa.org/press-room/news-releases/2014/nfpa-announces-theme-for-fire-prevention-week-2014.
^dy0f
