Base to celebrate Fire Prevention Week Published Oct. 3, 2014 Robins Fire Department ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire. That's the message behind this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!" Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, Robins Fire Emergency Services is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association during Fire Prevention Week, Sunday through Oct. 11, to remind base employees and residents about the importance of working smoke alarms in the home and testing them monthly. According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms decrease the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. In a fire, seconds count. Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out. This year's campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages: *Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. *Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do. *Test alarms at least monthly. *Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don't respond properly. *Make sure everyone knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it. Fire Prevention Week scheduled events: Monday - Smokey Bear will visit the Bldg. 300 Smoking Gazebo at 9 a.m. and Bldg. 1555 at 2 p.m.; a fire truck will be on display at the Base Exchange from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday - Fire-safety cards will be distributed at flight line entry gate 38 from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; Smokey Bear will visit Bldg. 215 from 9 to 10 a.m.; Sparky the Fire Dog and the Friendly Fireman will visit the Child Development Center in Bldg. 946 from 2 to 2:30 p.m. A fire truck will be on display at the Exchange and fire prevention materials will be handed out from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Smokey Bear will make an appearance at Bldg. 215 at 2 p.m.; a Base Housing Resident's briefing will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday - Fire-safety cards will be distributed at flight line entry gate 44 from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; Sparky and the Friendly Fireman will be at the CDC in Bldg. 943 from 9 to 10 a.m.; Firefighters will hand out fire-prevention materials and there will be a visit from Sparky at the Base Restaurant from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Smokey will make an appearance at Bldg. 301 at 2 p.m.; A dorm residents briefing will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday - Fire-safety cards will be distributed at flight line entry gate 38 from 7 to 8 a.m.; Smokey will make an appearance at Bldg. 301 from 9 to 10 a.m.; From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. firefighters will hand out fire-prevention materials and there will be a visit from Sparky at the Base Restaurant; fire-safety cards will be distributed at Bldg. 640 from 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 - A fire truck will be displayed at the Exchange and firefighters will hand out fire-prevention materials along with the help of Sparky from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Smokey will also make an appearance at Bldg. 905 at 2 p.m. Editor's Note: To learn more about how "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives", visit www.firepreventionweek.org.