Smoke Detectors Save Lives! Fire Prevention Week, running from October 6th to 12th, is an essential time to raise awareness about home fire safety. This year’s theme, ‘Smoke alarms: Make them work for you! ™’, focuses on the importance of having functional smoke alarms in every home. The campaign emphasizes three crucial actions: INSTALL, TEST, and REPLACE. Understanding the importance of these steps can make all the difference in a fire emergency. Smoke alarms are a critical first line of defence against home fires. Today’s homes burn faster than ever, giving you as little as two minutes — or even less — to safely escape once a fire starts. This narrow window of time makes it vital that your smoke alarms are in optimal working condition and strategically placed. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside of sleeping areas (such as hallways), and on every level of your home, including the basement.
When choosing a smoke alarm, make sure it is listed with Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), which ensures it meets the necessary safety standards. For enhanced protection, consider using combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the home. These alarms can be installed by a qualified electrician so that when one alarm sounds, all alarms in the home are triggered. This feature ensures that you will hear the alarm no matter where the fire starts. Regular testing of your smoke alarms is just as important as installing them. Testing ensures that the alarms are functioning correctly and that their batteries are still good. It’s recommended to test your alarms once a month by pressing the test button. If your alarms are battery-operated, replace the batteries every six months when the time changes or whenever the low-battery warning sounds. Additionally, smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years, even if they still appear to be working. Whether at home, at the cottage, or in a trailer, fire prevention is something everyone should prioritize. A well-thought-out escape plan is crucial for ensuring your family’s safety. Ensure that every household member knows the plan and practices it regularly. Remember, children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out in case of a fire. Assign someone to help them in your plan. By following these guidelines and staying informed about the latest fire prevention best practices, you can ensure that your smoke alarms will genuinely work for you in an emergency. Don’t wait until it’s too late — take action now to protect your home and loved ones.
Port Stanley Villager
Geoffrey Rae, Managing Editor / Sales Geoff@villagerpublications.com 519-495-7177
All articles written by Geoffrey Rae unless otherwise indicated. Writer – Peri Hayes • Copy Editor – Peter Bloch-Hansen Publisher – Barb Botten barb@villagerpublications.com Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications.All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproducedor used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions .
Be sure to check your smoke and CO alarms expiry date and change the batteries! Ray Ormerod Director of Fire Rescue Services/Fire Chief (519) 631- 4860 Ext. 249 r ormerod@centralelgin.org
Page 12 Port Stanley Villager • October 2024
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