After a harrowing 12 months of residential fires across the state, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and Duracell are hoping their annual “Don’t be a fool, Change your smoke alarm battery” campaign will be received with pro-active force this year.
The QFRS attended 1,912 residential fires in 2011 and QFRS Inspector David Sutch said Queenslanders needed to realise the fires they see reported on the news could occur in their own homes.
“The grim reality is that residential fires caused 27 fatalities in Queensland last year. These terrible incidences and others highlight the importance of preventative safety measures, however we continue to see many cases where smoke alarms have failed to activate as a result of removed batteries or poor maintenance,” he said.
Inspector Sutch said he hoped the annual “Don’t be a Fool” campaign would encourage people to take preventative action for the sake of their own safety and the safety of their loved ones and change their smoke alarm batteries on April 1st if possible.
“It takes less than 5 minutes to change a smoke alarm battery and when you weigh that up with the life that could be saved in doing so it’s certainly time well spent,” he said.
QFRS recommends the use of photoelectric smoke alarms and warns that not changing smoke alarm batteries and failing to maintain smoke alarms can be just as deadly as not having a smoke alarm at all.
The QFRS recommends:
Test your photoelectric smoke alarm monthly to ensure the battery and the alarm sounder are operating and clean with a vacuum cleaner annually to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance;
Replace the battery annually. Duracell and QFRS recommend replacing with a
long-lasting 9v alkaline battery;
If you live in a rental property, call your rental property manager and ensure you have correctly installed, maintained and working smoke alarms; and
Install photoelectric smoke alarms in positions that will wake all occupants in the home and give them time to evacuate, for example, outside each sleeping area with additional smoke alarms installed inside bedrooms where doors are closed at night and along evacuation routes if bedrooms are located upstairs.
The “Don’t be a Fool, Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery” campaign is supported by Duracell. Visit www.changeyourbattery.com.au or www.fire.qld.gov.au for more information on where to place smoke alarms in your home.
