With Fire Prevention Week next week, the Redmond Fire Department reminds residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms, testing them monthly and practicing your home fire drill.
Working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Redmond Fire Chief Tommy Smith. “Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”
Children younger than age 10 are more vulnerable to smoke and flames in a fire. They are also less likely to wake up if a smoke alarm sounds while sleeping and have a hard time escaping a burning home by themselves. Children younger than age 5 typically lack the motor skills and mental capabilities needed to quickly escape a burning building, but children as young as age 3 can follow an escape plan if they have practiced it often.
When children see smoke or fire, they may try to hide in a closet or under a bed. So, as soon as their children are old enough to understand, parents are encouraged to make sure their children know the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do when they hear it. A voice recordable smoke alarm to supplement the smoke alarms in the home may also help. Children often will wake to the sound of their parents’ voice giving them commands, rather than a beeping smoke alarm.
Parents should teach their children:
- Firefighters are their friends
- How to crawl low under smoke to reduce smoke inhalation
- How to touch closed doors to check for heat before opening
- Two ways out of every room
- Where their outside family meeting place is
RFD will be hosting open houses during Fire Prevention Week to promote “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!” Through these educational, family oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of working smoke alarms and testing them monthly.
Kid adventures:
- Hang out with firefighters
- Meet Sparky the Fire Dog
- Explore a fire engine and aid car
- Put on kids fire gear, just like the firefighters and keep the red hat
- Tour neighborhood fire stations
- Light refreshments
Fire station open houses
6:30-8:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)
Monday
Station 16
6502 185th Ave. N.E.
Station 18
22710 N.E. Alder Crest Dr.
Tuesday
Station 17
16917 N.E. 116 St.
Wednesday
Station 13
8701 208th Ave. N.E.
Thursday
Station 12
4211 148th Ave N.E. in Bellevue
Friday
Station 14
5021 264th Ave. N.E.
Saturday Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Station 11
8450 161st Ave. N.E.
For more details, visit www.redmond.gov/publicsafety/fire.
