October 5-11^th is National Fire Prevention Week! The National Fire Protection Association has announced that “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!” will be the theme of the 2014 Fire Prevention Week.

Fire safety should be a top priority for everyone, especially Property Managers and Apartment Building Owners as their business depends on having a safe and functioning building! According to the NFPA, nearly 3,000 people die in fires each year. Most of these fires can be prevented by proper smoke alarm maintenance.

Here are a few statistics from the NFPA regarding fires and smoke alarms.

• Having a working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
• On average each year, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires where there are either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. (Between 2007 to 2011)
• In 23 percent of home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.

A few things to keep in mind when it comes to smoke alarms and fire safety:

• Consider installing smoke alarms in every room and on every level of the dwelling (including basements).
• Testing of smoke alarms should be done every month simply by pressing the ‘test’ button.
• You should replace smoke alarms every 10 years to make sure they are working properly. Replace them sooner if they are not responding to the monthly tests.
• Never ignore the alarm. Do not assume that the alarm is false or is just a test.
• Once you hear the alarm ring, everyone in the dwelling must evacuate via the closest exit and/or stairway.

 

Make sure your property manager and apartment building owner clients are supporting a safety-conscious staff and tenant base through education and training. It is important for them to remind everyone in their building of proper fire safety and fire prevention tips!

 Source: Reproduced from NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week website, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2014 NFPA.;  www.nfpa.org

For more information on the Insurance Programs for Condominium Insurance, Cooperative Insurance,Apartment Insurance and Property Manager’s Insurance that New Empire Group, Ltd. offers, visit our website: www.NewEmpireGroup.com

Find us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter!