HomeMy WebLinkAbout092915_Fire Prevention Week
website: rentonwa.gov
City of Renton - 1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
September 29, 2015
For more information contact:
Anjela St. John, Fire Marshal, Renton Fire & Emergency Services Department, 425-430-7023
Preeti Shridhar, Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, 425-430-6569
National Fire Prevention Week – October 4-10
Hear the Beep Where You Sleep – Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm
Renton, WA: According to statistics, half of all deaths caused by home fires in the U. S. occur at night
between the hours of 11:00 pm and 7:00 am when people are most likely to be sleeping. A working smoke
alarm in the home cuts the risk of dying in a fire in half. These facts underscore the extreme importance of
working smoke alarms in all bedrooms. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week
campaign, "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep – Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.”
Along with fire departments and safety advocates nationwide, Renton is joining forces with the nonprofit
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 4 -10, to remind local
residents about the importance of working smoke alarms in the home, specifically in every bedroom, and
testing them monthly.
“Sadly, fires often happen when people are sleeping. Having working smoke alarms in bedrooms is a critical
element of home fire safety,” said Fire Chief Mark Peterson. “Smoke alarms can make the difference
between life and death in a fire by alerting people in time to escape safely, but they need to be installed in
all the required locations, including all bedrooms, and they need to be working.”
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the
home, including the basement.
Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. Th is way, when one sounds, they all do.
Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alar m and understands what to do
when they hear it.
Install smoke alarms and alert devices that meet the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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