The Kingsport Fire Department Reminds Area Residents:
Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!
Kingsport, TN – Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week/Month campaign, “Hear the Beep
Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”
Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Kingsport Fire Department 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 having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Barry Brickey, Public Education Officer for the Kingsport Fire Department. “Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out. Smoke Alarms combined with Home Sprinklers Systems are your best defense in case of a fire!”
According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Home Fire Sprinklers will quickly put out or contain a fire before the fire engines arrive.
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. This 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 alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.
- If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
- Call the fire department from outside the home.
- When building or remodeling a home install Home Fire Sprinklers.
The Kingsport Fire Department will be hosting activities during Fire Prevention Week to promote “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” Join Sparky the Fire Dog and a Fire Engine for a story-time at the Kingsport Library on Tuesday, October 6th @ 10:30. Homeschooling families are invited to attend one of the open Station 1 Tours Oct 13th & 16th @ 10am.
Fire Prevention Week has transformed into Fire Prevention Month for October in Kingsport, but activities begin in September and run through November as School visits, Station Tours and Presentations about fire safety fill up the calendar. Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom. Over 35,000 children and adults participated in Kingsport Fire Department Fire and Life Safety Events in 2014.
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week/Month programs and activities in Kingsport, please contact Barry Brickey at the Kingsport Fire Department at 423-229-9440. To learn more about smoke alarms and “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org and www.sparky.org/fpw.
