Fire department to share fire prevention tips at local schools
‘Fire won’t wait; plan your escape!’ this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week
– Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services has announced that Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 9-15. The local fire department works in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week celebrating its 100th Anniversary of the nation’s longest-running public health observance on record.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Fire won’t wait. Plan your Escape!” to educate everyone about very important actions they can take to be safe in the home. The theme promotes potentially life-saving messages that can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. Developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly ensures that everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and uses that time wisely.
Following are key messages behind this year’s theme:
- Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
- Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services will be visiting every school this week from Kindergarten through 4th grade to share tips. Along with Fire Prevention Week, firefighters are also celebrating 100 years of fire service to the community.
To learn more about this year’s campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape!” visit firepreventionweek.org.
