pspan classbodySmoke Alarms A Sound You Can Live Withrdquo is NFPArsquos official theme for Fire Prevention Week FPW October 3-9. If yoursquore wondering why NFPA the official sponsor of FPW for nearly 90 years is focusing on smoke alarms when most homes already have at least one youve come to the right placespanppspan classbodyspan classbodybold1span classbodyboldspan classbodyboldFire Factsspanspanspanspanppnbspppspan classbodyboldSmoke Alarmsspanpul li div classbodyspan classbodyspan classbodySmoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half.spanspandiv li li div classbodyspan classbodyA 2008 U.S. telephone survey found that 96 of U.S. households had at least one smoke alarm yet in 2003-2006 no smoke alarms were present or none operated in two out of the five 41 of the reported home fires.spandiv li li div classbodyspan classbodyAlmost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2006 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.spandiv li li div classbodyspan classbodyNo smoke alarms were present in 40 of the home fire deaths.nbspspandiv li li divspan classbodyIn more than half of the reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate batteries were missing or disconnected. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected smoke alarms.spandiv liulpspan classbodyspan classbody1span classbodyspan classbodyspan classbodyimg border1 hspace10 althome escape planning vspace10 alignright width125 height100 srchttpwww.nfpa.orgassetsimagesFPW04escapenighttime.jpg spanspanspanspan span classbodyboldHome Escape Planningspannbspspanpul li divspan classbodyAccording to an NFPA survey only one in four Americans have actually developed and practiced anbspa targetblank hrefhttpwww.nfpa.orgassetsfilesFPW09FPW09EscapeGrid.pdfhome fire escape plananbspspan classsmallPDFnbsp632 KBspan nbspto ensure they could escape quickly and safely.spandiv li li divspan classbodyWhile 66 of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire only 35 of those have practiced it.spandiv li li divspan classbodyOne-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8 said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get outspandiv li li divspan classbodyEighteen to 24-year-olds are the least likely to have even developed an escape plan.spandiv liulpnbsppul li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodyIn 2008 U.S. fire departments responded tonbsp386500 home fires. These fires killed 2755 civilians. Eighty-three percent of all fire deaths resulted from home fires.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodySomeone was injured in a home fire everynbsp40 minutes and roughly eight people died in home fires every day during 2008.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodyA fire department responded to a home fire everynbsp81 seconds.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodyAlmost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2006 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodyAbout 13 of home fires and deaths happened in the months of December January and February.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodyCooking continues to be the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodySmoking materials caused one of every four home fire deaths.spanspanspandiv li li divspan classbodybold1span classbodyspan classbodyThe kitchen is the leading area of origin for home fires. However bedrooms and livingfamily rooms are the leading areas of origin for home fire deaths.spanspanspandiv liulpnbspppspan classbodyThis years campaign is designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourages everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection.spanp
