October is Fire Prevention Month – a good time to revisit your family’s fire safety plans.
Fatal house fires
Fatal house fires are more common than you think. From January 1 to Sept. 30 of this year,1,463 home fire fatalities were reported in the U.S. That is approximately four out of every five fire deaths that occurred this year. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by about 60 percent. Despite the ongoing efforts of fire, safety and public health officials, the majority of these residential fire deaths occur in homes without any working smoke detectors.
Smoke alarms
“Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, but they have to be working in order to protect people,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign drives home just how important it is to install, test, and maintain smoke alarms to ensure they’re working properly.”
Each October, the NFPA recognizes October as Fire Prevention. The goal is to raise awareness of fire safety and help protect homes and families. The second week in October, this year October 6-12, has been designated Fire Protection Week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work For You!”
According to a recently released survey by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in conjunction with the NFPA and National Institute of Safety, 99 percent of U.S. households report having at least one smoke alarm. However, more than half of households don’t test their smoke alarms each month as recommended. A third of respondents said they never test their smoke alarms. “People tend to be overconfident about their risk to fire, which often leads to a sense of complacency that compromises safety,” Carli said. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to better educate people about their true risk to fire and the steps needed to make sure they’re adequately protected in the event of one.”
The NFPA’s essential fire safety messages concerning making smoke detectors work for you include the following:
● Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
● Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
● Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
● Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or don’t respond when tested.
● To learn more about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Smoke alarms: Make them work or you!” visit fpw.org. Additional Fire Prevention Week resources for children and their caregivers is at sparky.org and sparkyschoolhouse.org.
While young children and the elderly are at the most risk, fire safety education is for everyone. Keeping yourself and your loved ones safe in the event of a fire is up to you. Contact Delco Alarm Systems at 610-494-9100 for additional information on the latest residential fire prevention systems.