ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
After 10 years, the average smoke detector has gone through 3.5 million monitoring cycles during its round-the-clock watch and usually wears out.
That's just one reason a local organization is providing free smoke detectors to those who need them or will install them for people who can not do it themselves.
The Triad/SALT Council began offering and installing the detectors this week. SALT stands for Seniors and Law Enforcement Together and it is an advisory group that carries out Triad activities. The Triad is made up of representatives from the American Association of Retired Persons and local police agencies. The groups' goals include educating older people to protect them from crimes, and, in this case, fire.
Frank Graves, chairman of the council and a retired town police officer, said the council surveyed about 400 citizens 55 years and older to find out their needs and concerns. The survey results showed a significant concern about fire safety.
Through private donations, the council bought 24 smoke detectors that it plans to give to people who need them. Finding out who those people are can be a problem, though.
"A lot of seniors just don't want to ask for help," Graves said.
Graves and Christiansburg Police Chief Ron Lemons encouraged people who need a smoke detector to call the Police Department at 382-3131.
Crime prevention Officer Donnie Cromer said smoke detectors will be installed for people who show a need, but "basically no one is being turned away."
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB