Fire Prevention Week Campaign “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!,” kicks off on October 6, 2024, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) reminds people to check the smoke alarms in their homes to ensure they are working properly. DCFS has distributed 6,135 smoke alarms to families across Illinois since the program started in October 2019. DCFS distributed 1,368 smoke alarms this year and over 470 last year.
“We know that smoke alarms save lives, and providing free smoke alarms to the families we serve is a simple, and crucial, step we can take to keep them safe in the event of a fire,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “It is also important for caregivers to test their alarms once a month and practice a fire escape plan with their children so everyone knows what to do if the alarm sounds.”
Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Illinois law requires every household to have smoke alarms within 15 feet of every bedroom and at least one on each home floor. Families served by DCFS may request smoke alarms from their caseworker or call their local field office to request one.
The National Fire Protection Association offers these guidelines to help keep families safe:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, in hallways outside of each bedroom and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Test smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button to be sure they are working.
- Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
- Working smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.
