GFD reminds area residents: 'Hear the beep where you sleep'

Sunday, October 4, 2015
Winners of the Greencastle Fire Department fire safety contests gather in front of the antique GFD truck with Fire Safety Officer Christy Glass (left) Thursday during the annual department open house. Winners of the 2015 contests include Pre-K coloring: 1 Gavon Long, 2 Whitlee McDermit, 3 Abigail Standers, honorable mention Josie Tischer; kindergarten coloring 1 Ma'Kenndra Tasker, 2 Alexis Baker, 3 Kenadie Porter, honorable mention Marley Stokes; first grade coloring 1 Sophia Blanton, 2 Emily Hunsinger, 3 Mikinley Cantonwine, 4 Alyssa Morris; second grade coloring 1 Cody Evans, 2 Jeremiah Weir, 3 Anthony Peters, 4 Mona Horvath; intermediate school poster 1 Jade Shafer, 2 Cayden Johnson, 3 Donna Wait, 4 Avery Capps; middle school art 1 Sarah Heithaus, 2 Dylan West, 3 Trey Adams, 4 Bradi Gierke; and high school art 1 Vivian Savage, 2 Emma Wilson, 3 Divine Holmes, 4 Kaylyn Hurt. (Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan)

Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm. That's the message behind this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm."

Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Greencastle Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

"In a fire, seconds count," Greencastle Fire Chief Bill Newgent said. "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."

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:

* Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

* Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.

* Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

* Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don't respond properly.

* Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

* If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.

* Call the fire department from outside the home.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week, persons may contact the Greencastle Fire Department at 653-3108. To learn more about smoke alarms and "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm" visit NFPA's website at www.firepreventionweek.org and www.sparky.org/fpw.

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