Fire Prevention Week: Smoke Alarm Safety

(WENY) – “Don’t wait – check the date! Replace smoke alarms every 10 years!” That’s this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign slogan.

Fire Prevention Week runs from October 9 – 15, 2016.

The slogan promotes the importance of replacing smoke alarm devices every 10 years.

All you have to do, is check the date on the back of your devices.

Batteries should be tested monthly, and replaced yearly.

Statistics show that three out of five U.S. home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working alarms.

New York State law requires that all homes and businesses must have working smoke detectors.

Beginning January 1, 2017 in New York State, the sale of smoke-detecting devices powered by removable, replaceable batteries will be prohibited. Instead, retailers will be able to sell only smoke-detecting devices with a power source that isn’t removable and lasts at least a decade.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York and volunteer firefighters across want to remind everyone to take the following precautions:

Smoke alarms: replace every 10 years.

  • A smoke alarm’s age can be determined by looking on the back or side of the smoke alarm, where the date of manufacture can be found.
  • Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from that date (not the date of purchase or installation). Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old – or sooner if they don’t respond properly.

Batteries: test monthly, replace yearly

  • Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries should be replaced when they begin to chirp, signaling that they’re running low.

Two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes with no, or non-functioning, smoke alarms

  • Have at least one smoke alarm on every floor, including the basement and in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area.
  • Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

To learn more about fire prevention and safety, check with your local fire departments. Many are hosting open houses throughout the week.