Palmwoods
District News

September
1998

Page 3

BE ALARMED!
Fire brigade offers big discounts

PALMWOODS Rural Fire Brigade is undertaking a community project to supply discounted smoke alarms to district residents, in a bid to encourage home owners to become better protected.

The brigade is urging residents to take advantage of the offer of purchasing quality smoke alarms at cost price.

The alarms will be available for purchase on the footpath outside the Palmwoods newsagency on Saturday, September 12, between 8am and noon.

Emergencies permitting, an Nambour Fire and Rescue Officer will also be available to give advice to home owners as part of Operation Safe Home.

Alarms will also be available at the fire brigade meeting on Monday, September 14, which starts at 7.30pm. Orders will be taken if stocks run out.

The alarms being offered have been chosen for their efficiency and come with the recommendation of the fire brigade.

Being offered at almost half recommended retail cost is the Quell Long Life alarm, which has a 10 year warranty on alarm and lithium battery. It features an alarm silencer for non-emergency alarms, low battery warning and an easy test facility. It will be sold for just $16.

There will also be some alarms with high intensity safety light.

The offer is available to all Palmwoods residents and some proof of address may be required.

"There are cheaper alarms on the market but we have chosen this one because we believe the 10 year life of the alarm and the battery will prove to be cheaper and more effective in the long term," PRFB President Keith Golinski said.

"Residents will not need to change the battery every 12 months or so which can be a real problem."

Experience has shown that lives and property have been lost because regular batteries have not been changed and alarms have not operated when necessary.

Mr Golinski said that although it was recommended that a number of alarms be installed in most residences, one was always better than none.

He said families with young children would be well advised to have a smoke alarm in each of the bedrooms, as every additional alarm added up to a safer situation. At least two or three alarms are recommended.

"Most people have the occasional flutter on the pokies and lotto, but unfortunately, they are also prepared to gamble their life, their families lives and all their worldly possessions for the sake of as little as $16," he said.

"Almost every day, we see news reports of lives or property being lost in fires and it is now well documented that much of this loss could have been avoided if smoke alarms had been installed."

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