Saved by the Beep

The Saved by the Beep campaign is a public safety initiative led by the Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario to raise awareness about the life-saving importance of working smoke alarms. Each year, too many Ontarians are injured or lose their lives in home fires where smoke alarms were missing or not functioning properly. This program aims to change that.

What is “Saved by the Beep”?

“Saved by the Beep” is a province-wide education and awareness campaign which takes place annually on September 28th. The program is designed to:

Remind residents to install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
Encourage regular testing if smoke alarms – at least once a month.
Promote annual battery replacement, unless using a device with a long-life battery.
Highlight the stories of people whose lives were saved because their smoke alarm alerted them to fire.

Why it Matters

Simply put, smoke alarms save lives. When a fire starts, you may have less than 60 seconds to escape safely. A working smoke alarm gives you the early warning you need to get out quickly.

What You Can Do

Install smoke alarms on every level of you home, especially outside sleeping areas.
Test your smoke alarm monthly by pressing the test button.
Change alarm batteries at least once a year, or whenever the low-battery warning beeps.
Replace smoke alarms every 10 years – even if they seem to be working.
Talk to your family about your home escape plan.