WELLINGTON COUNTY – Test Your Smoke Alarm Day is a province-wide initiative observed every year on Sept. 28, to remind residents to test their smoke alarms and save lives.
A working smoke alarm can mean the difference between escaping a fire safely – or not.
That’s why the “Saved by the Beep!” campaign encourages everyone across Ontario to make testing smoke alarms a monthly habit.
Batteries fail, alarms age, and life gets busy.
A quick monthly test ensures you’re always protected.
Officials recommend people:
– install smoke alarms on every floor and outside all sleeping areas. A smoke alarm will let people in the house know if there is a fire;
– test smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button;
– replace batteries at least once a year, or as recommended by the manufacturer;
– replace smoke alarms every 10 years, or earlier if they stop working properly;
– make and practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in the household – know two ways out of every room, if possible;
– never remove the batteries from smoke alarms to stop them from beeping;
– know the different beeping sounds: a chirp, for example, means your battery needs to be changed; and
– if the smoke alarm sounds, everyone should get outside and stay outside.
A smoke alarm will make a loud “beep, beep, beep (pause), beep, beep, beep (pause)” sound if there is smoke.
“This Sept. 28, take 30 seconds to test every smoke alarm in your home – it could save a life. Encourage your friends, family, and neighbours to join the pledge,” officials encourage.
