As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Office of the State Fire Marshal and Safe Kids Kansas remind Kansans to ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety’

Governor Laura Kelly officially proclaims 3–9 October 2021 as Fire Prevention Week in Kansas. The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Safe Kids Kansas, Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs, Kansas State Firefighters Association and Fire Marshals Association of Kansas are all teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.’ This year’s campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.  

‘What do the sounds mean? Is there a beep or a chirp coming out of your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm? Knowing the difference can save you, your home, and your family,’ Cherie Sage of Safe Kids Kansas said. ‘We know that working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms save lives.’

In Kansas, residential fires killed 13 people and injured 129 people in 2020, and fire departments responded to over 3,000 residential fires. In addition, 131 Kansans visited emergency departments in 2019 for carbon monoxide poisoning, according to KDHE Environmental Public Health Tracking. 

‘It’s important to learn the different sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When an alarm makes noise – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you should immediately take action.’ Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, said. ‘Make sure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the alarms and knows how to respond. To learn the sounds of your specific smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, check the manufacturer’s instructions that came in the box, or search the brand and model online.’

Here are some safety tips to help you ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety’:

• A continuous set of three loud beeps – beep, beep, beep – means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.
• Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• A continuous set of four loud beeps – beep, beep, beep, beep – means carbon monoxide is present in your home. Go outside, call 9-1-1 and stay out.
• If you or someone you love is deaf or hard of hearing, install a bedside alert device that responds to the sound of the smoke alarms. There are also smoke alarms with a strobe light that flashes to give an early warning of the presence of smoke. Learn how you may qualify for one of these devices at GetAlarmedKS.org.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Kansas, please contact your local fire department. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit FPW2021KS HERE or visit SafeKidsKansas.org