National Fire and Prevention Week kicked off on Sunday and will continue through Oct. 12. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you.”
As well as spreading the word of Fire Prevention Week, the Easton Fire Department is offering a smoke alarm free of charge to anyone who needs assistance putting up a smoke alarm or those who do not have access to one. Anyone needing assistance can call the Easton Fire Department at 203-268-2833.
“Our goal is to make sure that we reach every person that has a need for any kind of fire prevention activities, and provide all the tools and resources whether that’s educational material or physical,” said Schuyler Sherwood, Easton fire marshal.
The Fire Prevention Week program has been around for over 100 years and is a year-round effort from the Fire Department. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you.” Smoke alarms are very important because they reduce the risk of people dying in their home. According to the National Fire Protection Association in 1977, less than one-quarter of all households had smoke alarms. The number increased to 95%, according to a 2015 study.
The Easton Fire Department offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:
- 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.
Sherwood said the Fire Department partners with nearby schools. Students at Samuel Staples Elementary School and Easton Country Day School will receive stickers to wear home that have the theme of smoke alarms on them. The schools are also going to provide posters throughout the community for the fire prevention poster contest.
“The kids get to put all their art skills together to come up with a beautiful poster that can be used throughout the community and statewide, kind of focusing on what’s important about fire prevention,” said Sherwood.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week and smoke alarms, visit fpw.org.
