Smoke alarms save lives, but did you know that smoke alarms have an expiration date?
Smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old should be replaced. That is the message Delta firefighters are promoting during this year's Fire Prevention Week.
From Oct. 9 to 15, fire departments across North America will be working to educate the public about the importance of fire safety and the importance of having working smoke alarms.
Fire Prevention Week is held annually and highlights an important theme in fire education. This year's theme, "Don't wait-check the date!", focuses on raising awareness that smoke alarms expire and to replace smoke alarms every 10 years to keep families safe.
To find out how old your smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm. The alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.
Students in kindergarten to Grade 3 will be invited to enter to win the Fire Prevention Week 2016 iPad contest. The iPad contest is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the BC Fire Chiefs' Association, the Fire Training Officers' Association of BC, the Fire Prevention Officers' Association of BC, Fortis BC and First Nations' Emergency Services Society. A student in each of B.C.'s five fire regions will win one iPad, as well as one student from a First Nations-operated school.
Delta Fire Rescue Emergency Services will once again be delivering the annual Fire Life Safety Program to schools during Fire Prevention Week and through the month of October.
Through this educational experience with Delta firefighters, elementary students will learn about the importance of having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom and general fire safety. Children will also have the opportunity to become the Chief-For-A-Day on Nov. 4.
For more information about fire safety, visit the Delta Fire Emergency Services' website at www.delta.ca or call 604-946-8541. To learn more about smoke alarms, visit www.firepreventionweek.org and www.sparky.org/fpw.
