Smoke Detectors: Are We Really Proactive?

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Sure, we all pass around the typical smoke detector propaganda during Fire Safety week in October.

But how many departments actually take proactive steps towards making sure as many homes are equipped as possible?

By this, I mean:

-When you go to a call at a residence, for even something as simple as EMS, do you note if their are smoke detectors or not?

-Do you let the residents know that their should be some and the proper locations for them

-Do you offer to install the smoke detectors for them

-Do you give away smoke detectors or arrange coupons for them?

-Do you offer an email or mail battery change reminder?

Smoke detectors are a proven lifesaving tool. However, I think that many of us have gotten compliant, and forget that fire safety education should be taught at every available oppurtunity. We go to people's houses everyday for routine things, this is our chance to teach them on their turf.

[RWC130 594]

GOOD TOPIC!

Yes, Smoke Detectors DO Save Lives.

Working Ones!

-Do you offer to install the smoke detectors for them?

-Do you give away smoke detectors or arrange coupons for them?

I was told several years ago that some Fire Departments stopped doing

this because of a "Liability Issue" ??? Should the Smoke Detector fail.

I think local FD's selling at a discount or giving away Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Alarms,

and CO Alarms is a GREAT thing and awesome PR!

[Guest FFNick]

We do daily "Smoke Detector Surveys" in multi family dwellings within our districts. People are instructed in the proper use and placement of detectors. They are also given a bi-lingual flyer with instructions and contact information where they can be put on a list to get free detectors and have them installed for free as well. The detectors come with a 10 year battery. Basically, anytime we are in public, we are to hand out the flyers.

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Another thing to remind people of is that smoke detectors have about a 10 yr lifespan. They should be replaced after that.

There was an incident, I believe in Spring Valley, where a lady in an apartment building died due to a fire in a nearby apt. Investigation showed that while the detector had a good battery, the detector itself failed. It was something like 15 yrs old.

[Guest]

It sure saved me and my friend's house and pets

I now have it and going to use it whenever i teach fire safety

[Oswegowind 17]

Seth, this is an excellent post in that I promote the usage of smoke detectors as most people do. In another time on this site I also made my opinion known that I felt that departments in the Metro NY area aren't doing enough when it comes to this issue. I mean, I have seen you photos from Texas and Arizona and it appears they have a really proactive at least advertising campaign. I believe that local departments should be doing a bit more. At least once a year the local fire departments should do a drive for batteries and smoke detectors and then as they go door to door for other things such as fundraisers they should speak to residents about the importance of these devices and even offer to inspect theirs. I am sure there are a lot of homes everywhere that don't check their own at least once a year and the service recommends at least twice right? There are senior citizens that can't check theirs due to age or condition, new homeowners who have no clue (mortgage crisis), and those who just plain forget. I challenge a member from every department that reads this to bring this up and push for a program!

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Great post, Oswegowind! Here's a thought to add to any campaign that gets started. Change the batteries when you change your clock into and out of Daylight Savings time.