Tipp Fire Service campaign on smoke alarms

Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service is aiming to increase the number of smoke alarms in homes across County Tipperary to a minimum of two working smoke alarms in every home.

 
Last week was National Fire Safety Week, and members of the local service were involved in several awareness-raising initiatives around the county. Among these was promotion of the importance of smoke alarms.

Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service is raising awareness through a combination of actions, including publicity campaigns using social media, school education visits, school visits to fire stations, and advertising in local media.

“In addition we would like to specifically target the vulnerable and highest risk groups in our community by providing and installing alarms to these groups,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Fire Officer.

Generally, these groups include: Elderly/vulnerable; those living alone; those living in isolated rural areas.

“If your community group is interested, please download the form on our website or contact us to request relevant forms as follows: Website: www.tipperarycoco.ie; email: smokealarms@tipperarycoco.ie. Please return forms by email or by post or hand to Smoke Alarms, Fire Service HQ, Tipperary County Council, Nenagh Fire Station, Limerick Road, Nenagh,

“Upon receipt of these forms, we will pass on these forms to the relevant local fire station and then local firefighters will contact the community group liaison person and then householder directly to arrange a suitable time for a Home Fire Safety Visit.

“This visit will involve two firefighters in uniform and travelling in a fire service vehicle going to your house and conducting a Fire Safety Check of your house. It will generally involve the installation of two 10-year smoke alarms in the home and checking any existing alarms in the house.

“We have already installed hundreds of alarms in homes throughout County Tipperary and with your help we hope to continue these installations and try and get smoke alarms in as many homes as possible in County Tipperary,” Mr Carroll said.

The theme of this year's National Fire Safety Week was: “STOP Fire - Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives.” Fit smoke alarms today and make sure they are in good working order. Working smoke alarms will warn you if there is a fire.

Remember: Your sense of smell does not work when you are asleep and smoke can put you in a deeper sleep. If someone in the home is deaf, or has impaired hearing, they may not hear an audible warning from a smoke alarm, for example if not wearing a hearing aid at night. There are smoke alarm systems on the market that use strobe lights or vibrating pads to give alert of danger from fire. These offer improved warning for people who may have difficulty hearing a smoke alarm with audible warning.

Smoke alarms may be tested by pressing the test button with the handle tip of a floor brush.

Replace the batteries when they are not working once a year in standard alarms, or as soon as you hear the warning beep. If you have 10-year smoke alarms, you need to replace the whole alarm after 10 years.

Get at least one smoke alarm for each floor in the home. Fit them between the sleeping areas and the kitchen & living rooms – one in the hallway at ground floor, and one at each upper level, in the landing. For an enhanced level of protection, consideration may also be given to fitting alarms in living rooms and kitchen, in bedrooms used by vulnerable people, or in bedrooms where there is a television or large electrical appliance (such as a computer). Heat alarms may be considered where fumes from cooking or smoke from cigarettes or open fires could lead to unwanted alarms.
Position smoke alarms at ceiling level in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Vacuum the smoke alarms regularly and wipe the cover. If they get clogged with dust they may not work properly.

National Fire Safety Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 8th, 1871. The former American President, Calvin Coolidge, proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week in 1925 in memory of those who perished in that fire. Since then, in early October, it has been observed each year in countries around the world. Many years on, the message regarding fire prevention and fire safety is as relevant today as it ever was.