In honor of Fire Prevention Week, first-graders visited Bartlesville Fire Department’s Central Fire Station on Oct. 10 to learn about fire prevention and safety, including how to feel the temperature of a door and how to crawl through a smoky room.
Fire Prevention Week is here, running from Oct. 6-12, and this year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” This week, Bartlesville Fire Department is raising awareness about the life-saving power of working smoke alarms.
New survey findings reveal:
- 99 percent of U.S. households now have at least one smoke alarm, a huge improvement from 88 percent in 1994.
- However, 61 percent of households do not test their smoke alarms as often as recommended — at least once a month.
- 33 percent of households never test their alarms at all.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 60 percent. Unfortunately, most civilian home fire deaths still occur in homes with no alarms or alarms that aren’t working.
“It’s essential to install, test and maintain your smoke alarms,” says Bartlesville Fire Marshal Brady Watson. “Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in the event of a fire — but only if they are working.”
Survey results from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, conducted in collaboration with the Fire Protection Research Foundation and National Institute of Standards and Technology, show that many households have misconceptions about the age and maintenance of their smoke alarms. Nearly 16 percent of households found at least one malfunctioning alarm during testing, often due to dead batteries. Only 51 percent of households accurately knew the age of their alarms.
Following are a few essential fire safety tips:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement.
- Ensure alarms meet the needs of all family members, especially those with sensory or physical disabilities.
- Test alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button.
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years or if they don’t respond when tested.
Fire Prevention Week, the longest-running U.S. public health observance, has been educating the public about fire safety for more than 100 years.
For more information, visit fpw.org, sparky.org, and sparkyschoolhouse.org for resources, including materials for children, caregivers and educators.