(Lawrenceville Ga., October 2, 2015) – Location matters when it comes to your smoke alarm.  That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week/Month campaign theme, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep.  Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”  It also coincides with the department’s long-standing commitment to provide free home safety surveys and install smoke alarms in at-risk communities throughout the county.  The department has already conducted hundreds of surveys and installed over 4,000 smoke alarms.     

               Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association during Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, to remind 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,” said Gwinnett Fire Marshal Stephen Hrustich.  Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11p.m. and 7a.m. when most people are asleep.  A working smoke alarm 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 or being injured 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/Month 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.
• For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home.  This way, when one sounds, they all do.
• Test smoke alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms if 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.  Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills regularly with the entire family.
• If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.  Crawl low and go, especially if you encounter smoke or heat as you make your escape.  Provide a home fire escape ladder for upper floors in the event that traditional exits are blocked. 
• Get out and stay out!  Go to your designated meeting place outside in front of the house and call the fire department (9-1-1) from outside the burning building. 

To help promote fire prevention and life safety in the community, the department will conduct several educational activities during the month of October:

• The 6^th Annual Public Safety Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 3^rd from 10-2 at the Gwinnett Braves Stadium (Coolray Field) in Lawrenceville.  The festival helps kickoff the department’s FPW/M campaign.
• The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will present a Proclamation to Fire Chief Casey Snyder at their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 6^th at 2p.m. in the Auditorium at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.  The Board of Commissioners feels so strongly about protecting the community from fire, that they designate the entire month of October as Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County.
• The department will host a Community Fire Safety Open House at the Stone Mountain Community Center on Thursday, October 17^th from 10-2.  The event is being held in conjunction with DeKalb County Fire Rescue and Rockdale County Fire Department.
• Firefighters and Fire Safety Educators will also visit local schools and daycares to show the apparatus and equipment and share fire safety messages with the children and adults.

For additional information on home fire safety or to find out more about fire prevention week/month activities, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678.518.4845 or e-mail fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.