DID YOU KNOW?
Ontario’s Third Annual “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day” will take place on September 28th. Being prepared to be SAVED BY THE BEEP with a WORKING SMOKE ALARM is your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.
FIRE IS DEADLY
Last year, Ontario lost 111 people to deadly fires, 121 in 2023. This year, devastating and horrific fires have swept across Ontario. Tragically, many of the victims were children … so many years of potential life lost!
MAJORITY OF FIRE-RELATED DEATHS: NO WORKING SMOKE ALARMS
- Most fire-related deaths throughout Canada occur in homes where people feel safe and secure, and that do not have Working Smoke Alarms.
- From the moment a Smoke Alarm sounds … you may have as little as one minute or less time to safely escape a fire in your home.
- SMOKE—which is the real killer—can engulf your home or cabin/cottage/camp in 2 minutes or less, giving occupants very little time to escape.
- Smoke is quiet and deadly … it will cover you and your loved ones like a blanket!
BE ON THE BALL & INSTALL
- Install Working Smoke Alarms on each level, (including the basement) of your home or cabin/cottage/camp, and outside all sleeping areas (like a hallway).
- For added protection, install Working Smoke Alarms in all bedrooms.
- When possible, install Interconnected-Smoke-Alarms; when one sounds, they all sound alerting residents on each level of the home.
- Some Smoke Alarms have smart features that will send out an alert to your mobile phone if smoke is detected in your home.
PRESS THE TEST BUTTON TO ENSURE IT BEEPS!
Being prepared in the event of a fire can start with simply pressing the test button on your smoke alarms and having the confidence that WORKING SMOKE ALARMS are in your home.
- Test SMOKE ALARMS at least once a month, by pushing the alarm test button.
- When the test button is pressed, the alarm should sound.
- If it fails to sound, make sure the battery is installed correctly or install a new battery.
- If the alarm still fails to sound, replace the smoke alarm with a new one.
CHANGE BATTERIES
- Change Batteries at least once a year, or immediately when you hear the low-battery chirping sound.
- If the chirping continues after changing the batteries, you’ll need to replace the alarm.
- If your smoke alarm is hardwired, it should have a backup battery.
- Consider using smoke alarms that have a worry-free 10-year lithium battery.
CLEAN ALL SMOKE ALARMS
- Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning your smoke alarm.
CERTIFICATION MARKS
- SMOKE ALARMS need to have a Canadian certification mark, which means it has been tested by laboratory professionals.
- Some of the common Canadian certification marks you may find on smoke alarms and their packaging include the following: CSA, cUL, cULus, ULC, cETL, or cETLus.
- BUYER BEWARE: When shopping for smoke or carbon monoxide alarms online, make sure they have a Canadian certification mark right on the product, not just on the box. Some online sellers have been caught selling alarms from third-party vendors that don’t meet Canadian safety standards and are missing the proper certification!
REPLACE SMOKE ALARMS
- Age matters!
- Replace Smoke Alarms that are more than 10 years old, including those that are hardwired/electrical.
- After 10 years—over 87,000 hours of continuous use—the sensors inside become less reliable.
VISIT SAVED BY THE BEEP SITE
For more information visit www.savedbythebeep.ca
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so, could lead to the unthinkable … the loss of your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
Safety—it starts with you.
