Are your smoke alarms working properly?

: Members of Ocala Fire Rescue Station 1 work during a National Fire Protection Association drill to practice their technique when entering a burning structure. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

Ocala Fire Rescue teamed up with the National Fire Protection Association, the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week, which ran from Oct. 6 to 12, to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!”

According to the NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 percent). Meanwhile, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

“Smoke alarms serve as the first line of defense in a home fire, but they need to be working in order to protect people,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA, in the news release.

Ocala Fire Rescue offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway) and on each level of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

To learn about Ocala Fire Rescues complimentary smoke alarm program, visit ocalafire.org/smokealarm For more information about Fire Prevention Week and smoke alarms, visit fpw.org