Warwickshire residents told: “don’t push your luck!”
Local residents will be sent a chilling message this month – you are twice as likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm.
Monday 28 August 2006, marks the launch of a hard-hitting advertising campaign by the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Fire Kills campaign called ‘Push the button not your luck!’
Nationally, 80% of the population own smoke alarms, but statistics show that in one in every eight house fires attended by fire and rescues services, the smoke alarm failed to work, largely due to flat or missing batteries. DCLG Fire Statistics, UK 2004.
County Fire Officer William Brown:
“The advertising campaign encourages people to test their smoke alarm batteries each week by stressing the fatal consequences of forgetting. It takes seconds to push the button so make sure you build it into your weekly chores, such as vacuuming.
“Smoke alarms provide vital early warning signs when a fire breaks out, which is often during the night. Don’t put yourselves or your family at risk for the sake of a battery.”
Here are the top tips to make sure you don’t push your luck this month.
1) Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home.
2) Check the battery once a week.
3) Replace the battery every twelve months.
4) Battery smoke alarm units should be replaced every ten years.
5) Consider installing ten-year battery smoke alarms or mains-powered alarms.
6) Do not put smoke alarms in the kitchen or bathroom.
For further information about smoke alarm maintenance and fire safety advice go to http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue or http://www.firekills.gov.uk