Smoke alarms: up, down and all around Published Sept. 27, 2010 By Bruce Ford Cannon Fire DepartmenT CANNON AIR FORCE BASE -- The Cannon AFB Fire Department will host activities during Fire Prevention Week Oct. 3-9 to promote "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" locally, and to help base residents understand the National Fire Protection Association smoke alarm recommendations. Through these educational, family oriented activities, residents can learn more about the power of smoke alarms, newer options for installing and maintaining them properly, and ultimately, how to better protect their loved ones from fire. The NFPA is promoting "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" as the theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign. NFPA, a nonprofit organization, has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 88 years. Base fire department officials want residents to realize the importance of having working smoke alarms in not only every home, but on every level as well. According to the Base Fire Prevention Office officials, smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. NFPA statistics show that working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half. But in order for a smoke alarm to save a life, it must work properly. NFPA's data shows that many homes have smoke alarms that aren't working or maintained properly, usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. About two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no properly functioning alarm systems. "Most people have a sense of complacency about smoke alarms because they already have one in their home. Fire Prevention Week provides an excellent opportunity to re-educate people about smoke alarms, new technologies and expanded options for installation and maintenance," says Judy Comoletti, division manager for NFPA public education. "Ultimately, we want this year's campaign to serve as a call to action for households nationwide to inspect their homes to ensure that their families have the full smoke alarm protection that's recommended." The Cannon AFB Fire Department offers the following tips for making sure smoke alarms are maintained and working properly: · Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound. · If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. · Replace all smoke alarms if they do not respond properly when tested. · Never remove or disable a smoke alarm. To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in the community, contact the fire prevention office at 784-4490 or 784-4077. To learn more about "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!," visit NFPA's Web site at www. firepreventionweek.com.