 |
| FEMA brings out awareness campaign related to safety and fire emergency |
"No matter how much the federal government, the state, or local officials do to prepare, we can't do it alone; individuals and families must do their part to be ready in case of an emergency," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "The public is the most important member of the nation's emergency management team, and so I encourage everyone, as they spring forward this year, to also take a few minutes to check their smoke alarms and talk through what your family would do during an emergency."
Information on preparing for emergencies can be found at Ready.gov. Steps include developing a communications plan to ensure family members know how to get in touch with each other during an emergency, putting together an emergency kit, and staying informed of potential risks. It's important to remember that an emergency could be a large scale catastrophic disaster or a smaller-scale event like a car accident or house fire.
In addition to visiting Ready.gov, the United States Fire Administration is encouraging families to ensure that their homes are equipped with working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire, so it's important to test alarms regularly and keep them properly maintained. This includes checking the manufacture/expiration date on the label, replacing the batteries, and cleaning dust away from the slots so that smoke can enter freely.
