Smoke alarm safety message
SCUF can provide installation assistance
by Sublette County Unified Fire (SCUF)
October 8, 2015
PINEDALE, WYOMING - When it comes to smoke alarms, it’s about "location, location, location". Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom of the home, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
The importance of having working smoke alarms in your home cannot be overstated. Three out of five home fire deaths in the U.S. occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by half in homes with properly working smoke alarms (source NFPA).
If fire broke out tonight while you were sleeping, would you and your family get out alive? How much time do you have to get out of a fire? Not as much as you think. Real fires are hot, smoky and dark. You may have only a very few minutes to safely escape from fire. If you're ever in a fire, don't spend time getting dressed or trying to gather valuables. Know ahead of time what to do if there's a fire. Develop an escape plan with two ways out of every room. You'll need a second way out in case your primary exit is blocked by smoke or flames. And make sure every exit is accessible, including windows. Getting out is your first priority in a fire. Then call 911 from a neighbor's telephone. Remember, if there's a fire, GET OUT and STAY OUT!
Smoke alarms are the first line of defense against deadly fire. But they can't protect us if they don't work. Smoke alarm failures usually result from missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. And smoke alarms won't last forever. Test your alarms at least once a month and replace the batteries every year. If your alarm is more than 10 years old, install a new one. Sublette County Unified Fire recommends installing photo-electric type smoke alarms at our elevation. There are many types of these alarms available for purchase in a wide variety of options. The photo-electric/carbon monoxide combination units can provide the additional benefit of testing for the presence of carbon monoxide as well.
Finally, if you need assistance with installation of your smoke alarm, Sublette County Unified Fire is delighted to be able to offer a free Smoke Alarm Installation program for approximately 50 homes per year in our county. We are targeting the following groups: elderly, low-income families, families with small children, people with disabilities, and others that may be at high risk. We also provide installation assistance for anyone who may have questions or need additional help. This program has been sponsored free of charge by the Sublette County Commissioners and Sublette County Unified Fire in conjunction with grant support from Federal and State Agencies. If anyone would like to take advantage of this program, please contact the Sublette County Fire Prevention Officer, Jim Albritton-McDonald at 307-367-4550.
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