National Fire Prevention Week
City of Corpus Christi
CORPUS CHRISTI – Fire Prevention Week began on October 3 and continues through October 9. This year’s campaign features the theme, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” From beeps to chirps, this year’s campaign works to better educate the public about the sounds smoke alarms make, what those sounds mean, and how to respond to them.
According to the latest National Fire Protection Association “Smoke Alarms in the U.S.” report, working smoke alarms in the home reduce the risk of dying in a reported fire by more than half. However, almost three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms (41 percent) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16 percent); missing or non-functional power sources, including missing or disconnected batteries, dead batteries, and disconnected hardwired alarms or other AC power issues, are the most common factors when smoke alarms fail to operate.
“The health and safety of our residents is my biggest priority,” says Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo. “We know that smoke detectors save lives, so it is crucial to have working smoke alarms and know the various sounds to keep you safe.”
“We want to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe,” Randy Paige, Fire Marshal for the Corpus Christi Fire Department (CCFD), said. “Knowing the different sounds of a smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) alarm can save you, your home, and your family. It’s important to learn the different sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and take action,”
The CCFD wants to share safety tips to help you “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.”
A continuous set of three loud beeps means smoke or fire. A continuous set of four loud beeps means Carbon Monoxide has been detected. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
Test all smoke and CO alarms monthly. Press the test button to make sure the alarm is working.
All smoke alarms must be replaced after ten years.
CO alarms also have “end of life” sounds that vary by manufacturer. This means it’s time to get a new CO alarm.
Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life, and the unit must be replaced.
If there is someone in your household who is deaf or hard of hearing, install a bed shaker and strobe light alarms that will alert that person to fire.