Fire Prevention

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Fire Prevention Week

October 9 - 15, 2022 is Fire Prevention Week in Parkland County!

Fire won't wait. Plan your escape.

Join NFPA® in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW). This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape™”, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.

Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.

To learn more, please visit http://www.nfpa.org/fpw

Do you and your Family have a Home Safety Plan?

Smoke Alarms and Testing (Smoke Alarm Saturdays)

Make the first Saturday of each month “Smoke Alarm Saturday”! A working smoke alarm will clue you in that there is a fire and you need to escape. Fire moves fast. You and your family could have only minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds.

Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement
Test all of your smoke alarms by pushing the test button. If it makes a loud beep, beep, beep sound, you know it’s working. If there is no sound or the sound is low, it’s time to replace the battery. If the smoke alarm is older than 10 years old, you need to replace the whole unit
If your smoke alarm makes a “chirp,” that means it needs a new battery. Change the battery right away.
Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the alarm and what to do when it sounds.

Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year!

Having a home fire escape plan will make sure everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds so they can get out safely

Draw a map of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.
Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure they are part of the plan.
Make sure all escape routes are clear and that doors and windows open easily.
Pick an outside meeting place (something permanent like a neighbor’s house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) that is a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet.
Everyone in the home should know the fire department’s emergency number and how to call once they are safely outside.
Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice day and nighttime home fire drills. Share your home escape plans with overnight guests.

REMEMBER:

When You Hear a Beep, Get On Your Feet! Get out and stay out. Call 9-1-1 from your outside meeting place.

Hear a Chirp, Make a Change! A chirping alarm needs attention. Replace the batteries or the entire alarm if it is older than 10 years old. If you don’t remember how old it is, replace it.