The Beep that Keeps on Giving

“Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” is the theme for Fire Prevention Week which is October 4-10. Studies show that half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out. 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. San Bernardino County Fire Department will be hosting various activities during Fire Prevention Week to promote “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom. Check our website at www.sbcfire.org under our calendar to see the various events. Also, available on our website is other safety information from wildland fire safety to having a family disaster kit.