Home safety and smoke alarms update

AS THE establishment phase of the Home Safety Project passes, a new maintenance phase begins and organisers and sponsors of the project are reminding those who benefitted from the project to take the time to check and test their smoke alarms.
Organisers of the project and the New Zealand Fire Service are keen to remind people that the installation of smoke alarms is just the first step in home fire prevention, and that ongoing safety is ultimately the responsibility of the householder.
"We're keen to see people maintain the smoke alarms that the Home Safety Project installed for them," said Kerry Stewart, risk management co-ordinator for the New Zealand Fire Service, "part of the project's aim was to empower individuals to be self-monitoring."
The continuing effectiveness of smoke alarms relies on prudent maintenance and this involves regular cleaning, testing and the changing of batteries.
Cleaning alarms is not an especially difficult task as smoke alarms are fairly robust and are meant to endure a certain level of disturbance.
The main thing is to make sure that sensors in the alarm are clear from debris, dust and cobwebs and this can simply be achieved by carefully vacuuming them once a month.
"It's really important to make sure that alarms aren't sprayed with fly spray either," said project co-ordinator, Pauline James, "we've had a few incidents where people have done that unintentionally, and it really clogs the alarms up."
Regular testing of alarms is really important, but like cleaning, is a fairly simple task.
"All people have to do is push and hold down the test button on the alarm once a month," said Matt Crabtree, fire safety officer for Taranaki, "this just makes sure the alarm is sounding. If it isn't, the battery will probably need changing."
Given that many of the smoke alarms were installed early this year, battery changes are due about now as a battery's life is generally 12 months.
"We have been getting a few calls about alarms going off intermittently," said Pauline, "and this usually means the battery is running low."
Organisers of the Home Safety Project would like to remind people that the initial cost of installing working smoke alarms has been covered by the project and its sponsors, but the cost of replacement batteries has always been the responsibility of the householder.
"We appreciate that with an average of six alarms per home, buying a batch of replacement batteries can be a great expense, especially at this time of year," said Pauline, "so we're advising people to spread the cost of batteries across the entire year, and purchase and replace one battery a month."
Although changing an alarm's battery is not difficult, it can present some challenges for older people who may struggle to get them down from ceilings and have trouble opening them.
Because of this, if anybody believes that their alarm needs a battery change or needs testing and a general check-up, the New Zealand Fire Service are more than happy to organise somebody to come out and help. Call the service free on 0800 652 200, lodge your request and a representative will call you back.
"We will do our best to get somebody out as soon as possible," said Matt, "and we undertake to deal with non-urgent requests within two working days."
If people are interested in learning more about fire prevention in the home, fire safety information and escape plans will be available from the Stratford District Council tent at the upcoming Stratford A&P; Show on November 29-30 at the Showgrounds, where people can speak directly with fire service representatives.
The Home Safety Project has been run in partnership with the New Zealand Fire Service, Work and Income, the Taranaki Electricity Trust, ACC, Peak Health Taranaki, Stratford District Council and Housing New Zealand.