Fire and Emergency Services: Make your smoke alarms work for you

Medicine Hat – Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week (FPW) campaign, “Smoke alarms: make them work for you!”. The campaign works to educate residents about the importance of working smoke alarms in the home.

According to NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 per cent). Meanwhile, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

“Smoke alarms are the first line of defense in the home and can mean the different between life and tragedy,” says Kelli Ireland, Fire and Life Safety Educator. “Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and replaced every ten years.”

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:

• Install smoke alarms outside of each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), on each level (including the basement) of the home, and in every bedroom.
• 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 every 10 years.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and smoke alarms, visit medicinehat.ca/fire-prevention-week.

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