“Hear the Beep Where You Sleep!”

•October 7, 2015•

National Fire Prevention Week takes place October 4-10. During this week, Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez urges everyone to take a moment to review their safety protocols in the event of a fire.

This year’s theme, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” points to the role of smoke detectors in dramatically reducing the tragic consequences of residential fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), half of home fire deaths—about 1,400 fatalities a year—result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are sound asleep. Three out of five home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The combination of these two facts – late night fires without sufficient warning to escape - has deadly consequences.

“I cannot overstate the importance of having properly placed and working smoke detectors in your home,” said Perez. “Smoke detectors are incredibly affordable and easy to install. Take a moment this month to make sure you have one in every bedroom and on every level of your home and that they are all working properly. They could be the difference between life and death.”

The Office of the State Fire Marshal provides the following recommendations for installing and maintaining smoke alarms:     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.