This week is National Fire Prevention Week, and the 2024 campaign focuses on educating families about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the majority of U.S. home fire deaths continue to occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
“Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, but they have to be working in order to deliver the needed protection,” said Lorraine Carli of the NFPA.
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign reinforces the critical importance of smoke alarms and what’s needed to install, test and maintain them properly.”
Having working smoke alarms in the home reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 percent).
However, roughly three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
“People tend to remove smoke alarm batteries or dismantle them altogether when they don’t know how to fix the issue. These actions put them at serious risk in the event of a home fire,” Carli said.
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign gives people the tools and know-how to keep their smoke alarms in working order.”
Key messages for this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you” include the following:
•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 or don’t respond when tested.
Local fire departments offer special educational activities throughout this week, especially for elementary school children.
Be sure to ask students about their fire department experience when they come home from school to discuss and reinforce what they’ve learned.
