38 —- Wednesday, October 5, 1994 — North Shore News

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Smoke detectors save lives if they are working

FIRE PREVENTION Canada
(FIPRECAN) and the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA)
have joined together for this year’s
national commemoration of Fire
Prevention Week, Oct. 9 to 15. The
1994 theme is Test Your Detector

Fire Prevention Week is recog-
nized every October during a weck
that includes Oct. 9, the anniversary
of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Fire departments across Canuda
utilize this commemoration as a
means to increase public awareness
of the dangers of fire and the ways

we can protect ourselves from it.

“Smoke detectors are powerful
tools for saving lives,” said
FIPRECAN president Rich Morris,
“but they have to be operating to
protect us.”

To make sue your smoke detec-
tors will effectively warn you of

When fire strikes, there’s no time to think.
So do your thinking now.

A fire can happen in an instant. Make sure you map out a home
escape plan and practise it regularly so it becomes second nature.
Because thinking ahead will save your life and the life of someone

you love.

For a Plan To Get. Out Alive booklet or more information visit a
McDonalds Restaurant near you or contact your local fire department.

smoke and fire in your home, -

FIPRECAN recommends testing
the devices at least once a month.

In battery-operated units, install
fresh batteries at least once a year.
In addition, if you think your
smoke detectors are more than 10
years old, replace them with new
ones. :

Every home needs the protection
of working smoke detectors, so the
Test Your Detector For Life theme
reinforces the need to keep smoke
detectors operating and emphasizes
the life-saving potential working
smoke detectors offer.

“We want Canadian families to
be well protected from fire” said
Morris. “Operating smoke detectors
are certainly our first line of
defense.”

In addition to having working
smoke detectors, FEPRECAN rec-
ommends planning and regularly
practising a home escape plan;
installing automatic residential fire

sprinklers in your home; and using
caution with smoking materials.

“A smoke detector with a dead
battery is more dangerous than no
smoke detector at all,” Morris
points out. “It gives you a false
sense of security.”

“I hopé this. year’s Fire’
Prevention Week campaign will .
help remind people to test their
smoke detectors every month to
keep them working so they will
provide early warning if a fire
breaks out.” .

With a mission to achieve a fire
safe environment for Canadians
through education, Fire Prevention
Canada, a non-profit charitable
organization, is dedicated to pro-
viding Canadians with dynamic
leadership and a national focus in
the field of fire prevention.

Fire Prevention Canada dnd its
partners in fire prevention can make
2 substantial reduction in the annual
fire loss statistics for Canada.

WEST VANCOUVER FIRE DEPARTMENT |
SERVING THE COMMUNITY

RESPONDS TO:

* ALL FIRE RELATED EMERGENCIES

« FIAST RESPONSE MEDICAL AID
Heart attack, collapse, trauma, etc.
¢ MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
Fire extinguishment and prevention; extrica-
tion, atc.
* RESCUE AND SAFETY CALLS
Trapped in elevator, hazardous material
spills, high angio rescues, etc.
* PUBLIC SERVICE CALLS
Lock outs, children trapped, cut rings, etc.
¢ FIRE PREVENTION SERVICES
Code enforcement.

INTRODUCING
“OPERATION ADDRESS”

Please help us find you by displaying
your address numbers. They should
be visible from the street when travel-
ling in either direction,
Your family is in |eopardy if
Emergency Services cannot locate
your residence.

“HOME FIRE
SAFETY PROGRAM”
* Fire Safety Equipment
+ Home Fire Prevention
¢ Fire Escape Planning

© PUBLIC EDUCATION SERVICES
Fire safaty lectures to schools, clubs, associ-
ations and apartment managers, etc.
¢ FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS
Of all buildings.
FIRE INVESTIGATIONS
Ongin / cause determination.
* COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Fund raisers for L.G.H., V.G.H., Burn Unit

A HIGHLY TRAINED ORGANIZATION
PREPARED FOR ANY EMERGENCY

SMOKE ALARMS

PROTECT BEDROOMS
FIRST. Hallway to bedroom ideal
spot.

PLACE smoke alarm at top
each stairway.

¢TEST At least once a month,
push the test button or use
smoke.

*CLEAN At least once a year,
dust with vacuum.

*REPLACE The battery each
year. Use battery type listed on
detector.

FIRE SPRINKLERS AND
SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES

For further information, contact the Fire Prevention Office 922-9317 §