PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
It’s Fire Prevention Week!
Monday, October 4, 2004
– Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency would like to remind
children and adults about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week,
October 3-9. This year's theme, "It's Fire Prevention Week:
Test Your Smoke Alarms," highlights the importance of all families
installing and maintaining smoke alarms in the home. The Halifax
Regional Fire & Emergency will be at the Bedford Place Mall
on October 5 from 10:00-2:00 and MicMac Mall on October 7 from 10:00-2:00
p.m.
Smoke alarms are the most effective early warning device available
for the home. Since they were introduced to consumers in the 1970s,
they have helped to reduce the home fire death rate by one half.
Even though they are now widely popular, roughly 70 percent of home
fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no
working smoke alarms.
Fires can spread through a home rapidly, and in some cases, individuals
may have as little as two minutes to escape to safety once the alarm
sounds. Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency encourages residents
to keep smoke alarms working and to leave immediately when a smoke
alarm sounds.
Here are some key smoke alarm installation and maintenance tips:
Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home and
outside each separate sleeping area.
Mount smoke alarms on ceilings or high walls.
Test smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.
A good reminder is to replace your batteries when you change the
time on your clocks (every 6 months).
Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years, even those that are hard-wired
or smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries.
Smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries also
need to be replaced when the alarm "chirps" or fails to
respond to monthly testing. The batteries in these units cannot
be replaced.
Alarms that are hard-wired to the home's electrical system should
be installed by a qualified electrician.
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit www.halifax.ca/fire
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For further information contact:
Kevin H. Thomas or Wayne Higgins, Fire Prevention Officer
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service
490-4017 or 490-5546
