Fire Dept emphasizes smoke alarms during Fire Prevention Week, Oct 3-9
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Joint Base Fire Department will host activities at local schools and child care facilities during Fire Prevention Week Oct. 3-9 to promote "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!"
Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the power of smoke alarms; newer options for installing and maintaining them properly, and how to better protect their loved ones from fire.
"Many homes surrounding the joint base may not have any smoke alarms, not enough smoke alarms, alarms that are too old, or alarms that are not working," says Tom Nicometi, Joint Base Fire Department chief. "We want residents to understand that working smoke alarms are needed in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom, and if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced."
According to Nicometi, smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. National Fire Protection Association statistics show that working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire by nearly 50 percent but they must be working properly to do so. The association's data shows that many homes have smoke alarms that aren't working or maintained properly, usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
NFPA and the Joint Base Fire Department agree that interconnected smoke alarms offer the best protection; when one sounds, they all do. This is particularly important in larger or multi-story homes, where the sound from distant smoke alarms may be reduced to the point that it may not be loud enough to provide proper warning, especially to someone who is sleeping.
"Most people have a sense of complacency about smoke alarms because they already have one in their homes. Fire Prevention Week provides an excellent opportunity to re-educate people about smoke alarms, new technologies and expanded options for installation and maintenance," says Judy Comoletti, division manager for NFPA public education. "Ultimately, we want this year's campaign to serve as a call to action for households nationwide to inspect their homes to ensure that their families have the full smoke alarm protection that's recommended."
The Joint Base Fire Department offers the following tips for making sure smoke alarms are maintained and working properly:
· Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home recognizes the sound.
· If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
· Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they're 10 years old (or sooner) if they do not respond properly when tested.
· Never remove or disable a smoke alarm.
All smoke detectors for on-base housing are repaired and maintained by United Communities. Any malfunctioning detector in base housing must be reported to United Communities maintenance office at (609) 724-0500.
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in and around JB MDL, contact the Joint Base Fire Department at 754-3326 (McGuire), 562-5484 (Dix), or (732) 323-7816 (Lakehurst). To learn more about "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" visit NFPA's website at www.firepreventionweek.org.
Schedule of Fire Prevention Week Events
Monday, Oct. 4
- Sparky and Fire Truck Display at CDC I Bldg. 2412, 9 to 11 a.m., and CDC II Bldg. 2430, 1 to 2 p.m.
- Fire Safety Display at the commissary and Lakehurst MWR all week
Tuesday, Oct. 5
- 1st and 2nd graders Fire Safety Education at Atlantis School 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 6
- Pre-K and Kindergarten Fire Safety Education at Discovery School,: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Ladder Fire Truck Tour at Dix Youth Services Bldg. 1279, 10 to 11 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 7
- McGuire Youth Center Fire Dept Open House, Equipment Display & Fire Truck Rides Bldg. 3830, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
- Fire Safety for Kids at Fort Dix Elementary School, 10 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 8
- Fire Safety House & Antique Fire Truck Display at Lakehurst CDC, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.