Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”

Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, Berwyn Fire Company is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

“In a fire, seconds count,” said Eamon C. Brazunas, Fire Chief. “Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep.”

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.
• If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
• Call 9-1-1 from outside the home.

The Berwyn Fire Company will be hosting its annual Fire Prevention Day on Saturday, October 24th from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. next to the Easttown Library and Information Center. This is located at the intersection of Bridge Ave. and First Ave. just south of the Berwyn Fire Company.

Berwyn firefighters and EMS personnel will be out all month educating children and adults at all Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Schools, several private educational institutions, and businesses about fire safety. To learn more about smoke alarms and “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” visit NFPA’s Web site at http://www.firepreventionweek.org and http://www.sparky.org/fpw

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website, www.firepreventionweek.org. © 2015 NFPA.