First Alert and South King Fire & Rescue are teaming up to advocate “For a Safer Place” by inviting community members to participate in a special safety education event this weekend at the Lowe’s of Federal Way. The focus of the event will be on educating attendees about how to protect their families and homes from the threats of fire and carbon monoxide.
Each year, nearly 3,000 Americans die from home fires, while carbon monoxide poisoning claims approximately 450 lives, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The association also reports fires in homes without smoke alarms cause an average of 940 deaths per year (38 percent of home fire deaths). An additional 510 people per year (21 percent of home fire deaths) are fatally injured in fires in which smoke alarms are present but fail to operate.
As a part of the national “For a Safer Place Campaign” launched by Lowe’s and First Alert, in-store safety events will be held in 24 cities across the country – helping people protect what matters most to them: their families and their homes.
Store associates and fire officials will host fun, family-focused fire and carbon monoxide safety activities at the Lowe’s located on Enchanted Parkway from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. Kids’ firefighter hats and activity worksheets will be provided, along with educational handouts for adults to teach families about the importance of equipping their homes with smoke and CO alarms, as well as planning and practicing a fire escape plan. Children also will participate in fire safety activities, such as building wooden fire trucks as part of Lowe’s “Build and Grow” program. Each child will receive a project kit equipped with goggles, an apron and fire safety patch.
To ensure your family and home are best protected from fire, follow the guidelines set by the National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Fire Administration, which recommends homes have smoke alarms installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement, and one carbon monoxide alarm on each level and in each sleeping area. To put this into perspective, the average-sized home in America – a two-story, three-bedroom house – needs a minimum of five smoke alarms and four carbon monoxide alarms.
In many parts of the country, fire and carbon monoxide alarms are required by law. In the state of Washington, all new construction and rental properties, and all multi-dwelling units, must have the alarms. Owner-occupied single-family homes must have carbon monoxide detectors upon sale only.
“In order to help decrease home fire and carbon monoxide poisoning incidents, people must be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge,” said Tom Russo, vice president of marketing for First Alert. “Through our partnership with participating local fire departments, we hope to help ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of communities nationwide.”
To learn more, visit the First Alert website at www.firstalert.com/forasaferplace.
