Sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, the annual Fire Prevention Week is upon us. It’s the longest-running public health acknowledgement in the U.S., proclaimed a national observance by President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 to commemorate the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Each year’s Fire Prevention Week centers around a theme, and this time around, the NFPA’s spokesdog, Sparky, is here to teach us what to listen for in “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” Knowing what to do when an alarm makes a sound will keep people safe, the campaign reminds us, and a handy safety tip sheet outlines the basics of alarms, such as the following:
Smoke alarms
- Three loud, continuous beeps mean smoke or fire. Get out and call 9-1-1.
- A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery needs to be replaced.
- If the chirping continues after a battery replacement, that means the alarm is at the end of its life and must be replaced.
- All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
Carbon monoxide alarms
- Four loud, continuous beeps mean carbon monoxide is present. Go outside and call 9-1-1.
- A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery needs to be replaced.
- If the chirping continues after a battery replacement, that means the alarm is at the end of its life and must be replaced.
- Carbon monoxide alarms have end-of-life sounds that vary bu manufacturer; this means it’s time to get a new alarm.
The campaign also addresses the importance of smoke alarms and alert devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, such as strobe lights and pillow or bed shakers. Learn more here.
In addition to checking all the detectors and alarms in your home, this is a great time to create or practice your family’s fire escape plan. Draw a map of your home, identify all the exits, make sure all escape routes are clear and pick an outside meeting space that’s a safe distance from the home. Check out the NFPA’s Home Safety Action Plan document, available in English and Spanish, to get started.