City of Bloomington Fire Department Remind Residents to "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 6, 2015

For more information, please contact:

Scott Smith, Fire Prevention Officer, City of Bloomington, 812.332.9763 or fire@bloomington.in.gov

City of Bloomington Fire Department Remind Residents to "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep"

Bloomington, Ind. - Oct. 4th through 10th, 2015 is National Fire Prevention Week. The theme for 2015 is "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep". Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., when most people are sleeping. A person's sense of smell is greatly diminished when he or she is asleep. Smoke alarms are critical in order to double one's chances of survival because smoke spreads quickly in a home fire. Therefore, notification is extremely important.

Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms installed. If you have a home with gas appliances or park your vehicle in an attached garage it is also recommended that you have at least on Carbon Monoxide alarm installed near your sleeping areas. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is deadly.

Along with smoke alarms every family needs to develop, discuss and practice a home escape plan. Establishing a meeting place is an extremely important part of this plan. The meeting place will help families to know if all members have been able to escape during a fire. Every room in your home should have two ways out, which often includes a window. Family members that sleep in an upstairs bedroom need to include a plan on how to get to ground level.

Bloomington Fire Department does offer smoke alarms to Bloomington residents who can not afford them. To inquire about smoke alarms, request a fire station tour, fire safety education or assistance with home escape planning please contact the Fire Department at 812.332.9763 or email fire@bloomington.in.gov and request to speak with Scott Smith, the Fire Prevention Officer.

###