Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety Pembroke Pines FL. – Every year the Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue Department, along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, joins forces with the NFPA during Fire Prevention Week. This year Fire Prevention Week runs from October 3-9th, and the theme, Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety, aims to remind everyone of the importance of taking the right actions to keep themselves and those around them safe. Do you know the sounds of Fire Safety? If there is a beep or a chirp coming out of your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm do you know what it means? Knowing the difference between these sounds can be lifesaving. The Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue Department encourages all residents to take interest and embrace this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme. It is of extreme importance that you know the different sounds, what they mean and make sure that everyone in your home understands the sounds of the alarm and how to respond. When an alarm makes a sound it usually means that we must take action. Here are a few safety tips that should help you “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety”: • A loud and continuous set of three loud beeps. Means there is smoke or fire and you need to get out quickly. Remember in the case of a fire you need to get out, dial 911 and stay out! Fire spreads quickly and you only have a few minutes to exit your home.
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• A single chirp every 30 to 60 seconds means that the battery is low and must be replaced. A good rule of thumb is to change the batteries in your alarms the two times a year you change your clocks. • All smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years. If you cannot remember how old the unit is, replace it! • Chirping that continues after the alarm has been replaced means that the alarm is at the end of its life and should be replaced. • If you have members in your family that are deaf, hard of hearing or have other sensory impairments make sure that your smoke and CO alarms meet their needs. There are bed shaker alarms as well as ones that use strobe lights to alert of fire and smoke. Additionally make sure you and your family have a home fire escape plan and that all household members are familiar with it. In the case of a fire in your home mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Your home fire escape plan should be practiced regularly and should include knowing two ways out of each room, practicing getting low and go, having a family meeting place which should be an immobile object such as a tree, light post, stop sign or neighbors home, and making sure everyone understands the importance of getting out, staying out and dialing 911. Remember fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Children, teens, adults and the elderly are all at risk in a fire, knowing about fire prevention and how to stay safe in the case of a fire makes all the difference.
INSIDE MIRAMAR/PEMBROKE PINES - THE MAGAZINE
