Beep, Beep, Beep! Fire Prevention

This year's annual Fire Prevention Week was from October 3-9.  Each year, Fire Prevention Week is sponsored by National Fire Prevention Association, whose mission is to "reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education." Fire safety is so important that some areas of the country extend the week through the whole month of October!

This year's theme was "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With," and consumer education focused on the importance of smoke alarms.

Here's what you can do at home to help prevent fire and be safe in case there is one:

1. Change the batteries in your smoke alarms every time you change the clocks one hour forward or backward (every 6 months).

2. Check the smoke alarm once per month to make sure you can hear it beep and that the batteries are working.

3. Sit with your family and create an escape route and a safe place to meet away from your house in case the smoke alarm beeps and there's a real fire. Practice, practice, practice!

4. Avoid leaving burning candles unattended, turn off your clothes dryer before leaving the house or going to sleep, and use a flashlight instead of a candle in your Halloween Jack-O-Lantern.

5. Be careful when cooking, especially around a stove with an open flame. Be sure that fabric, utencils, and children stay at least 3 feet away from the stove.

These and other helpful tips are available on National Fire Prevention Assocation's website. Visit firepreventionweek.org for more information about Fire Prevention Week.

As always, ask a Youth Services Librarian for help finding books and more information about fire safety!

Posted by ws