Bedroom Smoke Detector Requirement Takes Effect Feb. 18

An amendment to the city housing code that requires smoke detectors in all bedrooms will take effect Feb. 18. The amendment also requires a smoke detector on every floor of a house.

The requirement applies to new as well as existing houses, apartments and condominiums. The City Council passed the amendment Aug. 18, 2008, with the provision that it would not take effect for 18 months.

As of Feb. 18, the housing code requires “each room designated for sleeping purposes, or used for sleeping more than occasionally, or listed as a bedroom on a set of plans and each story, excluding crawl space and attic space, shall be required to contain a smoke detector located on the ceiling and no closer than 12 inches to the intersection of the wall and the ceiling.”

Battery-powered smoke detectors are acceptable. They are available at home-improvement and hardware stores starting at under $10.

Ritchie Brooks, the director of neighborhood services, said, “If a fire starts at night inside a bedroom with the door closed, it can be too late before enough smoke seeps out to activate a smoke alarm in the hall.

“This amendment brings the city code closer to the state building code, which also requires smoke detectors in all bedrooms and on every floor. However, unlike the state building code, we are not requiring that homeowners hard-wire the detectors into their home electrical system.”

The state building code applies to new construction. For more information go to the Neighborhood Services web page or call City Link at 727-8000.

Take Precautions During Cold Weather

During this prolonged period of cold weather, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Office of Emergency Management recommends that citizens review cold weather safety tips in order to reduce weather-related fatalities and injuries.

Frostbite and hypothermia can result within minutes of exposure to cold temperatures, particularly during low wind chills. Dress warmly by wearing a heavy coat, thick socks, gloves and headwear, making sure to cover the hands, feet and ears. Limit your body’s exposure time to outdoor temperatures. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience signs of frostbite or hypothermia. Signs of frostbite include a loss of feeling and/or white or pale appearance in your extremities. Signs of hypothermia are shivering uncontrollably, experiencing memory loss or disorientation, having slurred speech, or having unusual drowsiness or exhaustion.

Many people use space heaters for supplemental heating during very cold weather. There are several different types of space heaters (electric, kerosene, propane), but none are designed to be used as the sole heating source. If you use a space heater, ensure that: it is UL tested and approved, it is placed three feet away from any combustibles, it is never unattended, and it has a “tip switch” that will shut it off automatically if it is knocked over or falls. Always ensure that your smoke detectors are in working order and never use charcoal or gas grills indoors to heat homes due to the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Being prepared before a storm hits can save your life. Assemble an emergency supply kit for your home, workplace and vehicle. A home and workplace supply kit should include food, water, batteries, flashlights, extra medicine, first-aid supplies, an emergency heating source, battery-powered NOAA weather radio, portable radio, and baby supplies. Be prepared for the potential of losing power for at least three days during winter storms. Fully winterize your vehicle before a storm and include the following items in your vehicle supply kit: food, water, blankets, extra clothing, maps, etc.

For more information on winter weather preparedness, visit Emergency Management.

Police Accepting Applications for Citizens’ Police Academy

The Police Department is accepting applications for the spring session of the Citizens’ Police Academy, which will begin March 16, 2010.

The Citizens’ Police Academy is a 13-week program that offers citizens insights into how police officers perform their duties and the role of the Police Department within the community. Classes meet Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Center, 725 N. Cherry St.

The curriculum is similar to recruit training for new police officers, with a mix of classroom and hands-on training on such topics as departmental functions, search and seizure laws, use of force, firearm training simulator, K-9 and special operations, crime prevention, domestic violence, vice/narcotics, and criminal investigations. Students will have the opportunity to ride along with a patrol officer. Classes are taught by officers and civilian employees throughout the department.

Citizens’ Police Academy is not intended to train participants to be police officers, but to help create a citizenry that is familiar and comfortable with the Police Department.

Enrollment is open to any citizen 18 years or older who resides, works, or attends school in Winston-Salem. For applications, call the Winston-Salem Police Department at 773-7788, or visit the department’s Web site to apply online. The class is limited to 30 students. Applications must be received by March 1, 2010.