Does your smoke alarm work?
Winter is upon us, and heaters and fireplaces are going again warming up our homes in Lane Cove again.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) are urging all Australians to check their smoke alarms as winter begins, in a bid to avoid preventable deaths and injuries in the colder months.
In the winter of 2022, there were approximately 895 fires.
During that time, FRNSW recorded 16 deaths caused by structure fires, 12 of which were ‘preventable.’ Another 87 people were injured.
“Working smoke alarms save lives, and sadly complacency can be deadly,” said FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter.
“If you’re not regularly checking that your smoke alarms are in working order, you’re putting your life and the lives of your loved ones at risk.”
Change Smoke Alarms Every Ten Years
Every ten years, smoke alarms should be changed.
If they are yellowed, they are likely no longer in date and thus no longer viable.
“Smoke alarms and a plan can give you valuable seconds to make it out alive.” assistant Commissioner Millington said.
It is vital that the smoke alarms in your home are functioning properly to avoid any risks and keep you and your family safe this winter.
How To Check Your Smoke Alarm
Once a month
Test your smoke alarm batteries every month by pressing and holding the test button for at least five seconds until you hear the beeps.
Every 6 months
Vacuum dust off your smoke alarms every six months.
Keeping your smoke alarm free of particles helps reduce false alarms and ensures smoke can easily reach the internal sensor.
Every year
Replace lead or alkaline batteries every 12 months.
Every 10 years
Replace all smoke alarms with new 10-year lithium-powered smoke alarms every 10 years, or earlier if specified by the manufacturer.
Free Safety Visit
You can book a home safety visit from your local fire crew at the FRNSW website here
Firefighters can discuss safety options with you and install a free smoke alarm if needed.
Lane Cove Fire Station
Our Lane Cove Fire Station (061) is located in Artarmon, and a few years ago, ITC was lucky enough to spend a day with the crew who never stop working. Read our article here.
Many Lane Cove residents will remember when the roof and top storey of a house in Dettmann Avenue Longueville went up in smoke in the Winter of 2021 due to an issue with a heater. Read more here.
Cover Photo
At the launch of the FRNSW’s Winter Fire Safety Campaign, firefighters set fire to a mock bedroom at a testing ground at Londonderry, in Sydney’s west, to demonstrate how fire can destroy a typical bedroom within just three minutes.
Where did you hear that? On ITC, of course!!
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