For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2015
Hear the beep where you sleep with smoke alarms
National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4 through 10
FREEHOLD, NJ – Hearing a high pitched beep - beep - beep in the middle of the night might just save your life.
“A working smoke detector in each bedroom of your home is a great way to protect your family and yourself from fire while you are sleeping,” said Monmouth County Fire Marshal Henry Stryker III. “The detector’s beeping sound will awaken you and alert you to potential danger.”
Stryker and Freeholder John P. Curley are reminding residents of the importance of the beep as part of National Fire Prevention Week, which is observed Oct. 4 through 10.
“If you did not know that every bedroom needs a smoke alarm, you are not alone,” said Stryker. “A survey conducted by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) showed that less than half, 42 percent, of people questioned did not know that a smoke alarm should be installed in every bedroom of the home.”
According to NFPA statistics, half of all U.S. home fire deaths occur at night between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when people are most likely to be sleeping.
“During Fire Prevention Week, I urge every resident to check their home to ensure that there is a smoke alarm in every bedroom and make sure that the batteries work in every smoke alarm in their home,” said Stryker. “When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead.”
“Having a working smoke alarm in the home cuts the risk of dying in a fire in half,” said Curley, liaison to the office of the County Fire Marshal. “This fact shows you just how important it is to have working smoke alarms in all bedrooms.”
In addition to installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, there should also be smoke alarms placed outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms.
“No matter what time of day or night that that alarm goes off, Monmouth County has a dedicated corps of firefighters prepared and on call should the need arise,” said Curley. “Most of our local firefighters are well-trained and ready for duty because they received their training at the County Fire Academy.”
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