Be a Life Safety Hero this Mothers Day

As of May 5, over 61 percent of the state’s residential fire fatalities have involved someone over the age of 40.  As a result, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and Bureau of Fire Services (BFS) is encouraging Michiganders to take action, especially with Mother’s Day coming up.

“This Mother’s Day, as you visit family, be sure to check that their smoke alarms are working properly,” said BFS Deputy Director Joe Forro. “If visiting your mother on Mother’s Day is not possible, please consider visiting anyone you care about – your dad, grandparents, or elderly neighbors – and check their smoke alarms.”

Research conducted by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shown that during a residential fire, you have less than two minutes to get out of your home before toxic smoke and fire gases impact your ability to exit.

“We want to make sure that you and your family are equipped be safe and escape a house fire,” said LARA Director Marlon I. Brown. “Taking this action on Mother’s Day is a great start to spring and helps us be life safety heroes to our families.”

MI Prevention, a community risk reduction effort coordinated by the State Fire Marshal’s office, is challenging Michiganders to do four things on Mother’s Day:

1. If possible, visit your mother and elderly loved ones.
2. While visiting, please evaluate if they have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in their home. Smoke alarms should be in each bedroom and at each level of the house. CO Detectors should be outside sleeping areas and in mechanical rooms.
3. Develop an escape plan with options to exit the home that considers their abilities and practice with a timer to evaluate how long it takes them.
4. Understand the risks of smoking on oxygen and find safer ways for your loved one to smoke without falling asleep or starting a fire.

MI Prevention is managing a statewide fire safety campaign with over 800 partnering fire departments, which provides free in-home smoke alarm installations and home safety education for homeowners. Interested homeowners can contact their local fire department to request a fire safety home visit and smoke alarm installation today.

Additional fire safety information can be found on the MI Prevention Facebook page or at MI Prevention.