OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Would you trust a 10-year-old to protect yourself and your property? The Overland Park fire department is asking you to check the age of the smoke alarms in your home. Most manufacturers suggest you replace a smoke alarm after ten years.
In a public service announcement, the fire department released during National Fire Prevention Week, a firefighter asked people outside a community center if they knew how old their smoke alarms are.
The department wanted a more interactive approach to the PSA than a typical authority telling you something.
“Look at advertisers, they use testimonials,” said Jason Rhodes, the media manager for the fire department. “It’s one of the most effective ways to share a message and convince people. We trust other people’s opinions and what they say. We kind of leaned on that and looked to do something different than what we do in the past.”
Rhodes said smoke alarms lose effectiveness after 10 years. He said seconds matter if your home is on fire, so it’s best to have a working smoke alarm. Check how old your alarm is by removing it from the ceiling and looking at the born-on date which is written on the back. Rhodes said if you don’t see a born-on date, the alarm is likely older than ten years.
The department suggests you check your smoke alarm once a month, change its batteries when you turn the clocks back and spring forward. And replace the entire unit every ten years.
Watch the newest PSA by clicking here.
