Firefighters from the Center Moriches Fire Department spent the day at Clayton Huey Elementary School and Our Lady Queen of Apostles Regional Catholic School teaching the children of our community fire safety.

This year's theme was "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!"

Working smoke alarms are a critical fire safety tool that can mean the difference between life and death in a home fire. Smoke alarms can cut the chance of dying in a home fire in half. Data 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.

Here are some smoke alarm tips to follow:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

• 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 year 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.

The Center Moriches Fire Department would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the participants of our fire prevention poster contest for an outstanding job ! And to all of our Volunteer firefighters who donate their time each year to spend the day with the children.