7
January 2008
Snap Survey on
Smoke Alarms
One in five homes
of elderly Victorians has no operating smoke alarm
A snap survey by Archicentre on smoke alarms in Melbourne homes found over one in five homes of elderly Victorians had no operating smoke alarms.
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Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of Archicentre said, "Seven tragic house fire deaths since Christmas in Melbourne and a spate of house fires where there have been no smoke alarms is a wakeup call for the community. "In a sample of 200 Victorian properties inspected by Archicentre for the Home Services Program, run by the Department of Human Services, 86% had smoke alarms installed and 14% didn't. Of the 86% of smoke alarms installed 10% were inactive due to batteries having been removed or not replaced. "Many of the smoke alarms were also in the wrong place to protect elderly residents in a fire situation." Mr Caulfield said
that older people are most vulnerable in a fire situation and through
the Victorian Government's Home Services Program older persons and the
disabled can arrange for a free home safety inspection which includes
an assessment of smoke alarms. |
Archicentre urged people to make home fire safety a family affair and use their calendars to highlight regular checks on smoke alarms.
The organization also encouraged people with elderly parents to check smoke alarms regularly when they visited as an added safety measure.
"People failing to install and monitor the operation of smoke alarms are dicing with death in their homes.
"The lack of smoke alarms in many homes, given their low cost makes it impossible to understand why people put themselves and their families at risk."
From 2001 to 2006 there were 108 house fire deaths in Victoria, according to the Melbourne Fire Brigade (MFB) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA).
Information on the Free Home Safety Checks can be obtained by calling Archicentre on (03) 9815 1900.
www.archicentre.com.au
The building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects