Fire District, NFPA to Promote Importance of Smoke Alarms During National Fire Prevention Week, October 3 – 9
The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District has partnered with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote the use of home smoke alarms during National Fire Prevention Week, October 3 – 9.
The official theme of this year’s observance, "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With," underscores the importance of these tools for protecting life and property.
According to the NFPA’s Website, the campaign is "designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourage everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection."
Statistics provided by the NFPA show that smoke alarms reduce one’s risk of dying in a fire by 50%. Between 2003 and 2006, roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occurred in homes with no working smoke alarms.
"In 2008, home fires caused the deaths of 2,755 people in the United States and injured another 13,160," Barrington Fire Chief James Arie explains. "It is critically important that residents test the smoke alarms in their homes at least once a month, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and replace the batteries once a year."
A good rule of thumb is to replace smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks from daylight savings time to standard time each fall. In addition, smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
For more information on National Fire Prevention Week, visit the NFPA Website, www.firepreventionweek.org.