It's National Fire Prevention Week in Canada and this year firefighters across the country are urging Canadians to "learn the sounds of fire safety."

Cochrane Fire Services' Fire Inspector, Jeff Avery says that although it may seem like a simple message, it's an important one.

"There are different types of fire alarms out there," explains Avery. "Some of them make a loud buzz, some of them even talk. [It's important to] know the difference -- if your CO alarm is going off or your fire alarm is going off."

Avery says that people don’t test the smoke alarms in their homes as often as they should. He says that we should be familiar enough with the sounds that each alarm makes, to know notice when it changes.

"If it's doing that chirp every five seconds then that means that there's a fault and you may need to change the batteries," explains Avery. 

If the chirping continues after batteries have been replaced, Avery says the alarm itself is likely at fault and it's time to replace it.

While nobody likes to hear the piercing sound of a smoke alarm, Avery says it is a sound that saves lives. He says that when a fire happens the smoke will spread at an incredibly rapid speed and having a working smoke alarm will give you the time you need to get out. 

He says it's important for every member of your household to learn the sounds of fire safety.

"We're encouraging parents to teach their kids," explains Avery. "Turn your fire alarm on and let them hear what it sounds like, so they'll know what to do if it does go off."

Simply put, Avery says that smoke detectors save lives. He recommends testing all smoke alarms every month, changing the batteries at least once a year and replacing them after 10 years, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.