This past weekend, my daughter and I attended a Fire Safety event at a Tampa-area Home Depot store in which Kidde, the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products, donated 2,500 10-year Lithium Ion battery smoke alarms to the Hillsborough County Fire Department.
In total, Kidde and the National Fire Protection Association donated $1 million worth, or 50,000 units, of Kidde battery-operated smoke alarms to fire departments across the nation that day. The donation was part of a larger initiative known as “Be a Hero, Save a Hero,†which educates Americans on the simple steps they can take to help protect their family from a fire and reduce the risks for firefighters.
Kidde will also make donations to two non-profit organizations when customers log on to www.alarmpledge.com and promise to ensure their home has enough up-to-date and working smoke alarms. The pledge also encourages families to create and practice a home fire escape plan.
The hour-long event included the presentation of the smoke alarms to the fire department, along with activities for children to understand the importance of fire safety. The kids were also able to show the firefighters their appreciation for their service with thank you letters which they colored and presented to the fire chief.
The fire chief took the children on a tour of a fire truck while giving them instructions on what to do in the event of a fire. It’s important that children know that smoke rises and to get safely out of a building they need to drop to the floor and crawl outside to a designated safe location. They were also told not to fear firefighters who come to rescue them even though they may look and sound scary with all of their equipment on.
Parents were informed about the importance of having smoke alarms on every level of the home and having a fire escape plan in place with multiple ways out of each room, including an outside meeting place. While most homes have smoke alarms, one out of every five have units that don’t work. You should check and replace batteries with every time change, and replace the alarm every ten years. Kidde has a 10-year Lithium Smoke Alarm with batteries that are good for the life of the alarm.
We’re currently at the height of the holiday season with Christmas trees, lights and decorations going up on a daily basis. According to The National Fire Protection Association, 150 home fires per year begin with holiday lights and other decorative lighting, causing an average of 8 deaths, 14 injuries, and $8.5 million in property damage.
Holiday Fire Safety Tips
The Home Depot recommends that all homeowners make sure their home is properly protected from fires this holiday season by doing things such as:
- Taking inventory that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are on every level of the home and inside each bedroom;Â For best protection, smoke alarms should be mounted on a wall 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling. Smoke alarms should also be interconnected, so that they all sound if one sounds.
- Searching for hidden hazards such as damaged electrical cords or overloaded outlets
- Scheduling regular cleanings of chimneys and flues at least once a year.
- When purchasing a Christmas tree, it’s always important to plan your placement carefully by avoiding heat sources and drafts, which will prevent excessive drying.
- Always unplug lights before leaving the house
The Home Depot partnered with bloggers such as me to help promote Fire Safety Awareness Month. As part of this promotion, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
