Northwest Iowa — Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”
Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, northwest Iowa fire departments are joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) this week during Fire Prevention Week from now until Saturday, October 10, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
Orange City Fire Chief Denny VanderWel says that in a fire, seconds count.
The NFPA says that half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 PM and 7 AM, when most people are asleep. They say home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.
VanderWel also emphasizes that while this may be Fire Prevention Week, fire prevention is a year-round thing, and it’s everyone’s responsibility.
VanderWel says never hesitate to call the fire department.
More information about fire prevention from the NFPA:
According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
- Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
- Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.
- If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
- Call the fire department from outside the home.
To learn more about smoke alarms and “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org and www.sparky.org/fpw.
