| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 8, 1999 |
Contact: Bill
Teets at (614) 644-7187 |
State Fire
Marshal Robert R. Rielage held a press conference earlier today to launch Project S.A.F.E.
(“Smoke Alarms for Everyone”) in Ohio. The
smoke detector giveaway will initially focus on those in need of the lifesaving devices in
southeastern Ohio.
“Too many
needless deaths and injuries occur each year because smoke alarms were either not present
or not working,” Marshal Rielage said. “In
the nearly 14,000 residential fires in Ohio last year, firefighters found 41% of the homes
did not have operating smoke detectors. Our
hope is that Project S.A.F.E. and other similar programs will lead to a decrease in these
startling statistics each year.”
With donations
of 1000 detectors from KIDDE Safety Products, 250 from the Colerain Township Volunteer
Fire Department and those to be purchased using monies donated by various fire service
organizations, Marshal Rielage anticipates a wide-reaching effect on personal fire safety
in the southeastern part of the state.
“We are
happy to assist Ohio’s Fire Marshal in starting this community based and extremely
worthwhile program,” said Mark Schieffer, Vice President of Marketing at KIDDE Safety
Products. “We hope our donation helps
lay the groundwork for Marshal Rielage’s initiative.”
The donation
program will be anchored by the regions fire chiefs, with Coschocton Chief ?? Turner
serving as Marshal Rielage’s designated facilitator of the distribution. Food pantries, local fire inspectors, State Fire
Marshal Fire Safety Educators and others will assist in the dissemination of the smoke
detectors.
All Ohioans
should know that working smoke detectors can alert you to a fire in your home in time to
escape harm, even if you are sleeping. Install
smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, and outside of each
sleeping area. If you sleep with the door
closed, install one inside your sleeping area as well.
The facts speak
clearly: working smoke detectors save lives. They
also double individuals’ chances of escaping a nighttime fire. All Ohioans should ensure that their smoke
detectors are properly placed, regularly tested and maintained. By taking the time to test them monthly, you may
save your life, the lives of your family members and your property if fire ever breaks out
in your home.
When testing
your detectors each month, follow the manufacturer's directions. Also, replace batteries once a year or
whenever a detector "chirps" to signal low battery power. Never "borrow" a smoke detector's
battery for another use --a disabled detector cannot save your life. Replace detectors that are more than 10 years old;
and for complete protection, consider installing automatic fire sprinklers in addition to
smoke detectors.
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