In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed in early October. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925.

Fire Prevention Week is always observed from the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls, to honor the anniversary of the Great Chicago fire. It is intended to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.

American homes suffer an unwanted fire every 10 seconds and every 60 seconds they suffer a fire serious enough to call the fire department. Every three hours someone is killed in a home fire – that’s more than 2,600 people every year. Another 13,000 people are injured in home fires in a typical year. As this is Fire Prevention week, I would like to remind you of some helpful fire prevention tools that every household should have.

Keep an extinguisher in every part of your home where fire might occur – especially in the kitchen, living room and laundry room. Read the instructions and know how to use your extinguishers before a fire breaks out. Inspect your fire extinguisher gauge monthly and replace your extinguisher if the gauge reads empty. Replace any fire extinguisher more than 12 years old regardless of the gauge reading.

Smoke alarms provide vital early warning of fire danger. Install a smoke alarm in every room including basements and finished attics, in each bedroom and hallways outside of every sleeping area and at the top and bottom of stairways. Make sure everyone knows what the smoke alarm sounds like.

Maintaining the smoke alarms in your home is just as important as placing them in the correct location. Battery-powered smoke alarms must be tested once a month. Also, batteries need to be replaced at least once a year. Alarms themselves should be replaced every 10 years, because the sensors wear out and may not respond quickly enough to smoke.

A carbon monoxide alarm can also save lives. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can be fatal when inhaled. It is very important to have carbon monoxide alarms in your home. There are dual smoke/CO detectors that you can purchase at home improvement and hardware stores.

Practice two ways out of every room to mimic the most difficult fire situation you might encounter. Be sure to practice your escape plan during the day and at night. Assign an adult to wake and assist each child in the house. Also consider lending extra help to family members who are physically challenged or elderly. Identify a meeting place outside the home. Practice the plan at least twice every year.
It is an honor to serve you in Columbia, and I am grateful for your continued support. As with all matters concerning state government, I want to hear your opinions and suggestions concerning these issues. Please contact me in my Columbia office located at 602 Gressette Office Building. You can reach me, or a member of my staff in Columbia at (803) 212-6008 or by fax at (803) 212-6011. My district office is located at 137 Airport Road, Suite J, Mullins, SC 29574, the phone number is (843) 423-8237 and the fax number is (843) 431-6049. You may also email me at kentwilliams@scsenate.gov.

As always, I also want to supply you with my business phone number so that you will able to reach me easily at any time. My business phone is (843) 423-3904. Please use this information to write, call or email me with your suggestions and concerns regarding issues before the Senate and in our community.