Red Deerians are invited to learn about home fire safety as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s annual Fire Prevention Week gets underway.
The theme this year is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” and focuses on educating people about the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes. According to the NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 percent); roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no or non-functioning smoke alarms.
“Properly working smoke alarms can be life-saving, as they give people more time to get out safely during a fire,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Shane Dussault, Red Deer Emergency Services. “That’s why during Fire Prevention Week, we invite the community to join us at our open house to learn how to correctly install smoke alarms, properly test them, and make a plan for when an alarm sounds.”
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., RDES will be hosting an open house at Station 5, located at 311 Jordan Parkway. This family-friendly event will include emergency vehicle tours, crucial home fire safety education and emergency planning, and a free barbecue lunch.
Red Deer Emergency Services offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:
- 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.
For more information about smoke alarm safety, visit reddeer.ca/smokedetector. To learn more about the Fire Prevention Week open house, visit reddeerevents.ca.