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Community Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Scheme 2012

ALL CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS HAVE NOW BEEN ALLOCATED. SMOKE ALARMS ARE STILL AVAILABLE

Louth County Council is pleased to announce the roll out of its Community Smoke & CO Alarm Scheme for 2012. The scheme funds the installation of smoke alarms in vulnerable households nationwide (excluding local authority housing). The cost of purchasing the alarm is funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government while all other costs are funded locally.

This year funding has been secured by the Social Inclusion Unit of Louth County Council to purchase a number of Carbon Monoxide Alarms. In addition the Fire Departments of Louth Local Authorities have kindly provided a limited number of smoke alarms designed specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The importance of having a working smoke detector fitted cannot be over emphasised. Most deaths caused by house fires can be prevented if a working smoke alarm is installed. On average 46 people die in fires nationally each year. Statistics show that 20% of households do not have a working smoke alarm installed. Smoke alarms can save lives.

Under the Scheme, Louth County Council, with the assistance of the Community and Voluntary sector, will identify vulnerable households, including the elderly and people with disabilities, where no alarms are fitted. They will arrange for the supply and where necessary the installation of the self-contained smoke alarms or Carbon Monoxide Alarms.

If your Community & Voluntary Group wishes to participate in the scheme, full particulars can be obtained from:-

County Development Board Secretariat, Louth County Council, County Hall
Dundalk, Co. Louth

Telephone 042 9324355
e-mail dce@louthcoco.ie

Priority will be given to those most in need given the household circumstances and their geographical distances from the nearest fire station. The voluntary groups/volunteers will be required to install these alarms and confirm in writing to Louth County Council that they have been installed. All unused alarms must be returned to Louth County Council.

Further information on fire safety and carbon monoxide can be found at

www.environ.ie/en/localgovernment/firesafety

www.carbonmonoxide.ie

Application Forms for Community & Voluntary groups can be found HERE

Pictured at the launch of the 2012 Community Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Scheme are (L-R) Kevin Cormican - Acting Sub Officer, Dundalk Fire Station, Michael Rice - Louth County Council, Paddy Lawless & Darren Murphy - firefighters, Dundalk Fire station. PICTURE

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Community Smoke Alarm Scheme 2011

On Thursday 26^th January 2011, the Social Inclusion Unit of Louth County Council with the assistance of the Fire Departments of Louth Local Authorities launched its Community Smoke Alarm initiative, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dundalk. Under the Scheme, Louth County Council, with the assistance of the voluntary sector, identified vulnerable households, including the elderly and people with disabilities, where no smoke alarms are fitted and arrange for the supply of two ten-year self-contained smoke alarms.

The event proved popular with over twenty Community & Voluntary groups from all parts of the county represented at the launch. The event included a fire safety presentation from Eugene Quinn, Sub Officer, Dundalk Fire station, Shane McBride, Sub Officer, Drogheda Fire Station and Sheila Broderick, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Office for County Louth. They stressed the importance of having a working smoke detector fitted, as most deaths caused by house fires could be prevented if a working smoke alarm was installed. The Fire Service also gave advice on the different types of alarms available and how and where to install them in the home.

Under the scheme, Louth Fire Department also arranged funding for the supply of 10 smoke alarms for people who were deaf or hard of hearing. Ronan Kilkenny from DeafHear in Dundalk, explained their benefits followed by a short demonstration.

Groups participating in the scheme include;

Adree Active Retirement Group, Baltray Residents Association, Carroll Meade House Dundalk, Cooley Community Alert, Drogheda Senior Citizens, Dundalk Active Retirement, Dundalk Meals on Wheels, Dundalk Widows Association, Greenore Cooley Fisherman’s Association, Kilkerley Young At Heart, Lourdes Community & Recreation Centre Drogheda, Mount Bagnall Community Group, Netwell Centre Dundalk, Post Polio Support, Rathmore Residents Association, Ravensdale Community Alert, St Fursey’s Residents Association, St Brides GAA Knockbridge, Stabannon Tidy Towns and Townrath Environment Group,

The event concluded with a question and answer session after which over 350 alarms were distributed.