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It’s Fire Prevention Week, here’s what you need to know

Posted at 5:00 AM, Oct 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-11 05:00:09-04

October 9th-16th is National Fire Prevention Week.

This years theme is “Don’t Wait! Check the Date!” focusing on the expiration date of smoke alarms in homes.

National Fire Protection Agency research shows that most American homes have at least one fire alarm. But do you know how old yours is?

A recent survey conducted by NFPA revealed that only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced. However, smoke alarms don’t last forever, and need to be replaced at least every 10 years.

To find out how old your smoke alarm is and its expiration date, simply look on the back of the alarm where the date of manufacture is marked. The smoke alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date (not the date of purchase).

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced once a year or when they begin to chirp, signaling that they’re running low.

For more information on smoke alarms and this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Don’t Wait: Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years”, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.