Pubic Service Announcement
Leading up to Thanksgiving, the Kelowna Fire Department is raising the alarm about residential smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
“If there’s one thing I know with certainty, people are always thankful when their fire alarms have worked in an emergency,” says Fire and Life Safety Educator Kyle Jacobson. “But alarms only save lives when they’re functioning correctly.”
Smoke and CO alarms aren’t decorations in our homes. A working alarm can reduce the risk of injury or death in a home fire by half. Alarms sound when they detect smoke or if the level of carbon monoxide rises rapidly, notifying occupants before they are trapped or overcome. Alarms should be installed on every level of your home, including the basement and in every bedroom, and checked routinely.
To support residents, Kelowna Fire offers a short video for tips on alarm installation and maintenance.
“Maintaining your alarms is a simple task, but critically important,” says Jacobson. “Take a minute to wipe the unit clean of dust and grease, change out batteries and check the alarm expiry date. You should replace CO alarms and smoke detectors that have been in use for 10 years or longer.”
What is your alarm telling you?
SMOKE ALARMS
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) ALARMS
“Smoke and CO alarms in your home should also be reassessed to meet the changing needs of everyone in your home, including those with sensory or physical disabilities,” says Jacobson.
It might be a good time to consider:
October 3-9 is National Fire Prevention week. Find out more on the National Fire Protection Association website or visit the City of Kelowna website for local fire safety videos and other tips.