Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, tasteless, and poisonous gas that kills at least 430 people and sends approximately 50,000 people to emergency rooms each year due to accidental CO poisoning. According to NFPA, the death rate per 1,000 home structure fires is 55 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or alarms that fail to operate. Just like smoke alarms, CO alarms provide an early warning to reduce injury and death when every second counts. It isn’t enough to install them, they must also be maintained to ensure they remain in working order to increase fire safety in the home.

“Learning the difference between the sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is vital to saving life and property. Immediate action should be taken when you hear the beeping or chirping sound of an alarm,” said MDFR Fire Chief Alan Cominsky. “Families should practice their home fire escape plan at least twice a year to make sure that everyone in the household knows how to respond during a fire emergency."

During 2021 Fire Prevention Week, MDFR encourages all Miami-Dade County residents to Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety by keeping the following safety tips in mind:

• A continuous set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.
• Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

Be sure to follow our social media platforms daily to find out more about fire safety messaging. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and the sounds of fire safety, visit www.fpw.org.