By MATT PIKE
This week is Fire Prevention Week as the weather is getting cooler.
The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City and Northwest Missouri wants residents to make sure they are taking steps to prevent home fires.
Executive Director JoAnn Woody says now is the perfect time to check your smoke alarms, and adds most people don’t realize smoke alarms have a life span
“Most smoke alarms will be good, or be in good functional order, for about 10 years,” Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And those smoke alarms that do have batteries we want to make sure we’re testing the smoke alarms and the batteries, and replacing the batteries, on a regular basis.”
Woody says there are several campaigns to remind you, such as change your clock, change your batteries.
“Most batteries can be good for up to a year, so we do recommend that at the very least replace your smoke alarm batteries once a year, at the very least,” Woody says. “But you want to test them every month.”
Woody says you also want to dust around your smoke alarm to help with its effectiveness.
Woody says while you are checking those smoke alarms, now is also a good time to go over your home fire escape plan as well
“I’ve done it a few times where i tested my smoke alarm and I practiced getting myself and my dogs out of the house, just to see if the dogs are going to cooperate with me or not, most often they don’t because they’re so distracted by all the noise, but that’s why you practice these things,” Woody explains. “And that way that also allows you the opportunity to adjust your plan if there are more people in the home or if someone’s physical abilities have changed since the last time you tested your alarm.”
Woody says it’s important to make sure everyone in the home knows the plan and where to meet if a fire were to happen.
Woody says as you start preparing your fireplace for the winter, it’s time to have someone check that fireplace and chimney
“Having a professional come in and clean it periodically and make sure it’s all good, have them inspect it and make sure all of that is functional, especially if you have a gas fireplace, making sure the pilot light is functioning correctly, and the gas lines are working well, making sure all that is functional,” Woody says. “And then protecting the space around the fireplace.”
Woody says as for other heating methods, such as space heaters, it’s important to check the cords and make sure they function properly to reduce the risk of a home fire this winter.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
