HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

126

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

SUPPORTING THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF SMOKE DETECTORS IN EVERY HAWAII HOME BY 2010.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, fire safety in the state and the safety of its citizens are of great concern to every legislator, public servant, and first responder; and

 

     WHEREAS, after prevention, smoke detectors are the first line of defense against fire and can cut nearly in half the risk of death in a house fire; and

 

     WHEREAS, in recent years, approximately three-fifths of house fire deaths occurred in homes without smoke detectors; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2006, a total of 2,580 people died in 412,500 house fires that resulted in more than $11,000,000,000 in property damage; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Fire Department, the 16th largest fire department in the nation, responds to over 10,000 fires annually; and

 

     WHEREAS, with a house fire occurring in this country every 86 seconds, the diligence, determination, and devotion of Hawaii's firefighters can be supported by the installation of a smoke detector in every Hawaii home; and

 

     WHEREAS, inexpensive household smoke detectors can mean the difference between life and death by sounding an early warning in the event of a fire and alerting people before they are overcome by smoke and other poisonous gases; and

 

     WHEREAS, most low-income families in Hawaii cannot afford home smoke detectors; and

 

     WHEREAS, low-income families are defined as families qualifying for the State's general assistance program or the federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children program; and

 

     WHEREAS, low-income families in Hawaii deserve the protection that smoke detectors can provide; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's senior citizens are also a vulnerable population when it comes to house fires, and sometimes need assistance with installing or maintaining a smoke detector; and

 

     WHEREAS, in states that observe daylight savings time, the day used to convert to daylight savings time is also used to check smoke detector batteries and ensure the safe operation of smoke detectors; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that this body supports the installation and use of smoke detectors in every Hawaii home by 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that fire departments throughout Hawaii are urged to designate April 15 as the day to remind Hawaii's residents to check the batteries in their smoke detectors and to make sure they operate effectively; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Fire Chiefs Association and Hawaii State Fire Council are requested to investigate the possibility of donating and distributing smoke detectors to low-income families; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local fire departments are requested to consider implementation of a program to provide free smoke detectors in exchange for a free on-site fire safety inspection of low-income family homes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is requested to consider installing smoke detectors in all public housing projects in Hawaii and requiring a working smoke detector as a requirement of residency; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local fire departments and the Hawaii State Fire Council make every effort to develop an outreach program with senior citizen-focused organizations to educate people about the need for our senior citizens to be safeguarded with a smoke detector properly installed and maintained in their home; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii's fire departments and senior citizen advocate groups and organizations are urged to designate a day during Fire Prevention Week, which occurs ever October, as "Fire Safe Senior Day," for the purpose of educating seniors about the need for these life-saving devices; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to all county fire chiefs, the Chair of the State Fire Council, Chairperson of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Director of the Executive Office on Aging, and President of AARP Hawaii.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Smoke Detectors for Low-income Families in Hawaii