(Washington) -- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, City Council Chair Vincent C. Gray, and DC Fire & EMS Chief Dennis L. Rubin today launched the most aggressive smoke alarm coverage program in the city's history. The Smoke Alarm Verification and Utilization (SAV-U) Program features firefighters and inspectors engaging a routine schedule to go house-to-house in the District to ensure the presence of a working smoke alarm. If no smoke alarm is present, a device will be installed free of charge.
Mayor Fenty touted the program as the most comprehensive such strategy to date in the protection of city residents. Joining with Council Chair Gray, who has been instrumental in securing funding and in enhancing the program, Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander and Chief Rubin, Mayor Fenty observed crews installing the devices in the 1100 block of 50th Street, Northeast near Antioch Baptist Church, where the historic program was launched.
The SAV-U Program was announced today as part of a neighborhood celebration that featured food, health screenings and fire prevention activities for DC residents.
"We are also pleased and excited to announce our partnership with Signal One Corporation, which is providing smoke alarms to this effort," said Chief Rubin, who also detailed new technology introduced by Signal One, aimed at further protecting children from house fires. Conventional smoke alarms activate with a series of loud beeps that continue in short, rapid succession. The Signal One "VOCAL" smoke alarm not only detects smoke, but it uses an innovative method to alert children. This Alarm supplements the high-pitched beeps with spoken instructions recorded by parents. Studies have shown that a familiar voice, particularly a mother's voice, is 99% effective in waking children, as opposed to the 57% effectiveness of a standard beeping alarm. And the Signal One Vocal Alarm is the only alarm that uses this method.
First Alert, maker of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and other home safety devices, has been a long-standing partner with the DC Fire & EMS Department. Donating countless thousands of devices to the Department's effort, First Alert has again come through for the safety of city residents with another large donation of combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for the SAV-U Program. First Alert's community commitment has been tried and true, and DC Fire & EMS is proud to stand with First Alert again in another successful program.
Having a working smoke alarm of any type in your home is the best personal protection against fire. Studies have shown a working smoke alarm increases a person's chances of surviving a fire by 50%.
That's a statistic local property management and development company, Akridge, is interested in preserving and enhancing for residents of the District. As a major sponsor of the SAV-U Program, Akridge is committed to keeping their properties safe, and they are interested in providing resources to the DC Fire & EMS Department in its effort to do just that.
"Having a smoke alarm in your home is great, but it has to be installed properly and maintained," said Chief Rubin. "That's why our professionals in the Fire & EMS Department will conduct monthly installation events, where we can eventually get to every home in the city." The SAV-U Program will occur on or about the third Saturday of every month. It is our hope that momentum from the kickoff will carry on to each monthly event until every resident in the city can rest assured their family is protected with a working smoke alarm provided by the DC Fire & EMS Department.
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