In 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) named the second week of October Fire Prevention Week in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Today, many businesses and organizations take the time to raise fire safety awareness and educate families and communities during the month of October, which is now Fire Prevention Awareness Month. At Ryan Electrical Solutions, we would like to shed light on the importance of fire safety awareness and remind our friends and families to take the following safety precautions in your homes and businesses.
Install Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Make sure that your home has the proper smoke and carbon monoxide alarm systems installed. According to the NFPA 3 out of 5 home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms. Dual sensor alarms (also known as ionization-photoelectric alarms) are recommended to help detect both smoldering and flaming fires. At Ryan Electrical Solutions, we suggest installing Kidde Lithium 10-year alarms that are hardwired, but include battery backup.
Test smoke & Carbon Alarms
Be sure to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly and replace batteries when necessary. Be sure to consider upgrading your existing 9 -volt systems to the new Lithium 10-year battery life units and avoid having to replace the batteries every year. This will save you some time and money.
Make Sure Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms are Located Appropriately
The NFPA recommends homes should have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed within 15’ of every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level including basements.
Pay Attention to Electrical Hazards
One thing businesses typically do not lack are electrical cords. Do not use frayed or cracked cords. Be sure that you are only using extension cords temporarily and never force plugs into outlets that don’t seem to appropriately fit.
At Ryan Electrical Solutions, we support those raising awareness throughout our community regarding fire prevention and safety. We encourage our customers to take precautions against accidental fires and recognize the leading causes of unexpected fires. If you are unsure if your existing alarms work, please feel free to give us a call. We give free electrical, generator and audio-visual estimates. We have been committed to Central Illinois throughout the past 25 years and care about the needs of our customers.
For more safety tips be sure to visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website at NFPA.org