“LEARN THE SOUNDS OF FIRE SAFETY”
Sunday, October 3 marks the beginning of Fire Prevention Week. This year’s campaign aims to educate people about the different sounds made by smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.
Sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for nearly 100 years, this year’s message is simple but strategic. Make sure everyone knows what to do when an alarm sounds. Learning the difference between the sound of a low battery and that of a smoke or CO condition will help you save you, your family and your home.
SMOKE ALARMS
Smoke alarms detect a smokey condition before you and smell or see the problem. A continued sound of three loud beeps means smoke or fire. Get out immediately, then call 911. A single chirp every 30 seconds or so indicates a low battery. If the chirping continues after you change the battery, it most likely indicates the smoke detector needs replacing. Every home should have a smoke alarm on every level, in all sleeping areas and in the basement. Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year and test all smoke detectors monthly. There are smoke alarms and other devices to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These include pillow or bed shakers and strobe lights that activate when the smoke alarm arounds. For more information on this important topic, visit Fire Safety for the deaf or hard of hearing section of the NFPA website.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Carbon monoxide, dubbed the silent killer is an odorless gas that is undetectable to people and their pets. Produced when natural gas, propane, wood or coal is burned, CO quickly becomes deadly when an area is not properly ventilated or when a chimney is blocked. CO detectors monitor the levels of CO in a home and activate before CO can reach dangerous levels, giving you time to get out.
The sound of most CO detectors is a series of four beeps The beeping keeps going until the CO condition drops. Like smoke detectors, a single chirp every 30 seconds indicates a low battery. CO detectors should be placed on each living level of your home, in the basement and near, not in, an attached garage. Make sure to keep grills, generators and other fuel-burning devices outside and away from doors and windows.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey have statutes that require CO detectors in private dwellings. In Delaware, any new home or addition is required to have CO detectors if they contain a fossil-fuel burning device. If you have questions about CO detectors, the staff at Delco Alarm Systems can help.
The NFPA wants you to remember, “Hear a beep, get on your feet. Get out and stay out. Call 911. Hear a chirp, make a change. Replace the battery or the entire unit if it is more than 10 years old.”
Delco Alarm Systems wants you and your family to remain safe in your home. If you have questions about the best type of smoke and CO detectors for your home, contact our professionals at 610-494-9100.
To access more information and valuable interactive videos for children about fire safety, visit the NFPA website for fire prevention.