Firefighters

from the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services are

visiting local schools this week to educate students on a variety of fire

safety measures with activities for Fire Prevention Week.

Firefighters

are placing an emphasis on having children call 911 for any and all emergencies,

said Lt. Stephen Hood.

"We also

ask them to do some homework with their parents to make an escape plan

at their home," Hood said. "We also want them to make sure their

home has working smoke detectors."

Statistics

from the International Association of Fire Chiefs indicate that the smoke

alarms nearly double a person's chance of surviving a home fire. Local

residents are urged to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when

the time changes Sunday, Oct. 27.

National statistics

from the IAFC show that approximately 20 percent of smoke alarms in American

homes don't work, mostly because of dead or missing batteries. Smoke alarms

should be replaced every 10 years, according to the IAFC.

When developing

escape plans, the National Fire Protection Association recommends two

ways be found out of every room. Sometimes, that might involve using a

window to escape. The NFPA also recommends designating a safe place to

meet outside the home in case of a fire, and making sure to practice the

escape plan twice a year.

The association

also highlights that special care should be taken with several home hazards

that could lead to a fire, including the kitchen stove, candles, partially

extinguished cigarettes, frayed electrical cords and flammable liquids

such as gasoline or kerosene.