Smoke detector giveaway provides reminders for holiday safety too

EASTPOINTE — Community Choice Credit Union customers who stopped by the member center in Eastpointe the morning of Nov. 3 had the opportunity to meet the city’s fire marshal, Alton Polk.

Polk spent the morning distributing smoke detectors to visitors during the credit union’s smoke detector giveaway program. He also answered fire safety questions for visitors and passed out coloring books. 

Polk passed out 100 Ecoey photoelectric smoke alarms to members and nonmembers of the credit union. Community Choice Credit Union purchased the smoke detectors, and each household was allowed one device.

A smoke detector automatically produces a high-pitched sound when it senses the presence of smoke or fire. A smoke detector should be in every room in the house, including the basement.  

“Smoke detectors save lives, no matter how you look at it,” Polk said. “If there is a house fire, it will help you get out of the house. It alerts you. It will help you make the appropriate decisions. It can buy you time to get out of the house.”

Polk recommends checking the batteries of the smoke detectors every six months to make sure they are working properly. A good way to remember that is to inspect them during the switches to and from daylight saving time in the spring and the fall.  

Along with installing smoke detectors, another safety tip Polk offered is to close bedroom doors at night before going to sleep. While it’s not a 100% guarantee, keeping the doors shut “can stop the fire from entering the room,” Polk said.

With the holidays approaching, Polk also shared several holiday fire safety tips. For anyone planning to deep fry a turkey, cook it outside on a surface that is noncombustible. Also, keep some distance between your home and the turkey fryer. When preparing a meal, stay close to the food items. 

“When you’re cooking, don’t leave,” Polk said. “Pay attention to what’s going on.” 

Keep safety in mind when putting up a Christmas tree.

“If you have a real tree, keep it watered. A healthy tree does not catch fire as easily as a dry one does,” Polk said. “Keep anything that produces heat away from the tree. Keep extra cords away from the tree.”

When it comes to holiday lights inside and outside, make sure the cords are plugged in properly.

“Don’t overload circuits,” said Polk, who added that “a lot of people start using space heaters” this time of year.

“Space heaters cause a lot of fires,” the fire marshal said. “Don’t throw blankets on them. When not home, make sure it’s unplugged and off.”

Community Choice Credit Union representatives look for ways to help customers not just financially, but in other areas as well.

“We are a community-based credit union and part of that is giving back to the community. We have a budget to be able to provide different things to members,” Eastpointe Community Choice Credit Union member center manager Brooke Bieber said. “Our partnership with the Fire Department is just one example. We understand the importance of fire safety. Smoke detectors in the homes save lives.”

The Eastpointe Community Choice Credit Union member center will distribute turkeys from 4 to 6 pm. Nov. 17. The turkeys will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. The Eastpointe member center is located at 16345 E. Nine Mile Road.