30290-I-0149
OCTOBER 5-11 IS NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARMS MONTHLY
SMARTER POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
TOM WHEATLEYSUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES
FIRE PREVENTION TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARMS TODAY! WEEK
LAKELAND ELECTRIC
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE ENERGY
When was the last time you tested the smoke alarms in your home? Was it last week? Last month? A year ago? If you’re like many people, you may not even remember it’s something you should do. Smoke alarms have become such a common feature of U.S. households that they’re often taken for granted, and aren’t tested and maintained as they should. Working smoke alarms are a critical fire safety tool that can mean the difference between life and death in a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms can cut the chance of dying in a home fire in half! Research shows that home fires killed more than 2,300 people in 2012; many of these deaths could have been prevented with the proper smoke alarm protection. The Lakeland Fire Department too often sees the devastating effects of fire first-hand; the burn injuries, the loss of homes and possessions and knows it is devastating. What’s even worse is witnessing a family’s anguish after a loved one has been killed in a fire. It’s heartbreaking and sometimes preventable with the use of a properly working smoke alarm. Fire Prevention Week is October 5-11, 2014 and this year’s safety focus is “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!” To help support this national effort, each year, the Lakeland Fire Department hosts fire safety events and an Open House. These events allow the citizens of Lakeland to get to know the Lakeland Fire Department, learn about fire safety and how smoke alarms save lives. For more information, visit:
CITY OF LAKELAND NEWS & EVENTS
OCTOBER 2014
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS
Saturday, November 8, 2014
The 2014 Veteran’s Day Ceremony & Parade will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2014. A memorial service for all veterans will be held at 10 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park on the west side of The Lakeland Center facing Lake Beulah. Immediately following the ceremony the parade will kick-off from the Lakeland Center and travel through downtown Lakeland ending with a festival in Munn Park. We want the parade route lined with residents showing support for our veterans. Gary Clark, president of the Polk County Veterans Council, which represents the many veterans organizations in Polk County, said an important part of the observance will be to honor the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.
www.lakelandgov.net/lfd
SMOKE ALARM TIPS: • • • • • •
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Test alarms each month by pushing the test button. Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly. Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound and understands what to do when they hear the smoke alarm. To learn more about the “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!” campaign, visit NFPA’s website at www.firepreventionweek.org and www.lakelandgov.net/lfd