Provided by Prince William Fire & Rescue
This time of year, expectations of cooler weather and holiday celebrations go hand in hand; however, there’s also the potential for significant increases in home fires. Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue (pwcgov.org/fire), in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA,) have teamed up once again for National Fire Prevention Week, October 9 – 15, focusing on smoke alarm safety. This year’s theme, “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 years,” is urging the public to check the date on their smoke alarms and replace them if the date is within 10 years.
A survey conducted by NFPA revealed that the public has many misconceptions about smoke alarms which can put you at an increased risk should a fire occur in your home. The survey indicates that a small percentage of people are unaware of how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need replaced. As a result of these findings, NFPA, the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week, is addressing these concerns by urging the public to focus on the following key messages:
- Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
- Make sure you know how old the smoke alarms are in your home; age matters when it comes to your smoke alarms.
- To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; they should be replaced 10 years from that date.
Reports indicate that half of home fire deaths occur between 11:00 p. m. – 7:00 a. m. when most people are sleeping. When a fire occurs in the home, smoke spreads quickly; smoke alarms provide an early warning allowing you time to escape a home fire. When properly installed and maintained, working smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire. You double your chances of surviving a home fire with working smoke alarms compared to homes without working smoke alarms.
Facts
In 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to 367,500 home fires which caused 11,825 injuries, 2,745 deaths, and $6.8 billion in direct damage.
- On average, seven people died in U.S. home fires every day.
- Three out of five (60%) home fire deaths (2009 – 2013) resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
- No smoke alarms were present in more than one-third (38%) of the home fire deaths.
- Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, while smoking materials is the leading cause of home fire deaths.
Additional Safety Tips
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home including the basement.
- Test your smoke alarms every month.
- When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.
- Call 911 once you’re safely outside.
- Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years or sooner if they don’t respond when testing:
- For smoke alarms with a non-replaceable battery, replace the entire smoke alarm if it begins chirping.
- For smoke alarms with regular batteries, replace the batteries once a year when you change your clocks, fall back, spring forward, or before if the battery starts to chirp.
- Smoke alarms should be interconnected, so when one alarm sounds, they all do.
Smoke Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The estimated number of deaf and hard of hearing persons in the U.S., ranges from 22 million to as high as 36 million, of which six million are profoundly deaf, unable to rely on traditional audible smoke alarms to alert them of fire. However, there are special designed smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing. There are vibrating alarms or visual alarms equipped with flashing strobe lights. It is vital that this audience is aware of the availability of these types of smoke alarm devices as well as the importance of a proper escape plan.
For more information on smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing, contact the Hearing and Loss Association of America at 301-657-2248 or visit hearingloss.org/.
Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee advises residents to “test their smoke alarms monthly ensuring they are in working condition. In addition, develop and practice a home fire escape plan so everyone knows what to do should a fire occur in your home. By following these simple safety tips you gain peace of mind and needed protection in the event of a home fire.”
To learn more about working smoke alarm safety take the 2016 Fire Prevention Week Quiz, visit nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/fire-prevention-week-quiz.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit the National Fire Protection Association at fpw.org.
