'Test your smoke alarm' call from fire chiefs

GET into the habit of testing your smoke alarm every month from now onwards - that's the message from fire chiefs.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR) is urging residents to regularly test their smoke alarms and those of people they care for to prevent fire deaths.

The message is part of a new look Fire Kills advertising campaign launched by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The campaign will run for one month from January due to the increase in fire-related emergencies and deaths over the winter months, compared to the rest of the year. 

SYFR has recorded ten fatal deaths from accidental and household fires over the last 12 months.

It siad a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999. 

But just half of all householders who own a smoke alarm say that they test it is working on a regular basis. 

Trevor Bernard, SYFR head of community safety, said: “You’re four times more likely to die in a fire without a working smoke alarm, but only half of the people who own an alarm say they take the time to check it regularly. 

“I’d encourage people in South Yorkshire to make sure you test your smoke alarms this month and get into the habit of testing them each month as they can save you and your family’s life.”

Help keep yourself and your loved ones safe from fire by following these simple steps:

- Make sure you fit smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly 

- Make testing your smoke alarm part of your household routine in three easy steps

- Test it by pressing the button once a month

- Change the batteries once a year if your alarm has removable batteries 

- Clean the alarms casing twice a year to ensure dust is not blocking the sensor 

- Whatever happens, never remove the batteries in your smoke alarms unless you are replacing it

- Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire and knows your escape route.

- For more information visit facebook.com/firekills