During October, ServiceMaster NCR acknowledges National Fire Safety month by helping disseminate fire safety information. According to the Dept of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), “most Americans underestimate their risk for fire, and many either lack emergency response plans – or fail to practice them with fire drills.” ServiceMaster NCR are the disaster restoration experts you would want to call in the case of fire damage to your home or structure, but they’d rather you prevent them!
The week of October 9-15 is targeted as Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme, according to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), is “Don’t Wait, Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 years.”
This is the 3rd consecutive year that the focus has been on smoke alarms. 2015’s theme was “Hear the Beep where you Sleep” and 2014’s was “Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month”. This targeted theme should come as no surprise when news headlines repeatedly detail fires in homes without working smoke alarms. According to NFPA’s recent outreach message, a frequently cited NFPA statistics is that “three of every five home fire deaths in the US result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.” This is a staggering percentage they hope to remedy.
Locally, many Fire Departments are holding an “open house” to invite the community to learn more about fire safety and the services the fire department provides. Our Penn Daw station (#11) in Alexandria is holding their open house tomorrow, October 15th. If you’re in the area, plan to stop by.
The most asked questions, according to the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, are: “What type of smoke alarm should I get?” and “Where is the best location to place the smoke alarms?” Their website has a short NFPA video with the plea, “Please take two minutes to increase your fire safety knowledge. Who knows, it could save your, or a loved one’s life one day.”
Great idea! At ServiceMaster NCR, we hope you stay safe all year long.
Followup note:
10/17/2016
Our local fire station, Penn Daw Station #11, won a competition for having the Best Open House in Battalion 6.
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