This time of year is an especially important time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. December, January, February, and March are peak months for home fire deaths. In fact, three out of five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes without working smoke detectors. Smoke detector failures usually result from missing, disconnected or dead batteries. A monitored smoke detector is typically hardwired to the alarm box, has continuous power, and is ideal to have in your home. However, if you can’t have hardwired units, make sure that you have working battery-operated smoke detectors with good batteries.
Fire is not the only seasonally high household danger; Carbon Monoxide death rates also increase during the winter months. Carbon Monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. The gas can come from a stove, water heater, furnace, fireplace, etc. Because Carbon Monoxide is odorless and tasteless, it can poison you before you even know it’s there. A Carbon Monoxide detector can sound an audible alarm, possibly saving you or a loved one. Like smoke detectors, if you don’t have a hardwired unit, make sure you have good batteries in your Carbon Monoxide detector.
Maintaining working smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors can help to keep your home safer, but you can also help make Desert Ridge a safer and better place to live by starting or participating in a neighborhood block watch program. The Desert Ridge Community Master Association offers grants of up to $200 for Block Watch formation meetings and get-togethers in Desert Ridge. These grants are available to Block Watches that are recognized by the Phoenix Police Department. The grants may be used for food, beverages (non-alcoholic) and other limited supplies.
If you’re interested in learning how to start a neighborhood block watch program, please contact our Phoenix Police Community Action Officer, Tim Mitten, at tim.mitten@phoenix.gov or 602.495.5238. For more information about the grant program, please contact the Desert Ridge Community Association office at 480-551-4553 or desertridge.az@fsresidential.com.
