While Cochranites take the time to spring one hour ahead for daylight savings, Cochrane Fire Services’ fire prevention branch says that people should also take the time to check the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and keep their fire safety plans up to date.
Fire Chief Shawn Polley advises that it only takes a few moments to stay safe and prepared in the event of an emergency.
“We urge residents, when they’re springing ahead or falling back with the time, that it is always a great time to test your home fire safety plan,” Polley said. “We also encourage the testing of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide devices that are in your home.”
With various forms of devices out in the community, Polley said it is always best to replace their batteries in the spring and fall, while also practicing your home escape plan.
“We’re here to help any citizen that wants to come by and have a conversation, or give us a call at the fire hall,” he said. “We have all sorts of brochures and we are able to walk any citizen through a home fire safety plan or home fire escape plan.
“We also encourage anyone that if you are getting an alarm, chirp, beep, or anything like that, you can dial 9-1-1, we’d be happy to come by and check that out. But all alarms should be treated as serious every time they go off.”
Polley said that detection devices expire after 10 years. He notes that people are often surprised by how often that occurs, and explains how people can make sure their devices are still in working order.
“There should be a sticker on the side of your device, if it is chirping it’s probably expired,” he said. “If it’s not chirping, it does not operate, or it does not activate when you use the test button, you certainly have an issue that needs to be resolved.”
When creating a fire safety plan, Polley said it is always best to rehearse what to do in an actual emergency.
“It’s important to get the whole family together, agree on a meeting place outside, and if there is an emergency, make sure that there’s a device or someone has the ability to dial 9-1-1 to activate emergency services as quickly as possible,” he said.
Polley adds that making sure every household fire extinguisher is operational is something that people should always keep in mind.
“The needle should always be in the green, and there’s lots of great vendors locally where you can purchase a new extinguisher,” he said. “One’s labelled ABC mean they’re good for all types of fires that can be found in the kitchen, and is a great addition to your home fire safety arsenal.”
In closing, Polley and Cochrane Fire Services urge residents to take a few moments and make sure their fire safety is always a priority.
“It’s a great time to test those and make sure that they’re in good operating shape,” Polley said. “Big thing to do is always remember to treat all alarms as serious and dial 9-1-1 when in fear or doubt.”
