| Mississippi Department of Health Offers Area Residents Free Smoke Alarms |
November 22, 2005 — The Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) encourages residents of Copiah, Covington and Noxubee counties to participate in a free program installing smoke alarms in area residences.
The result of a cooperative agreement between MDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the MDH smoke alarm program is offered to people living in those Mississippi counties that meet select CDC criteria:
- County population must be below 50,000 residents
- County's average household income must be below the federal poverty line
- County must have a number of residential fires, fatal and non-fatal fire-related injuries, and/or a fire incidence rate above the state and national average
This program seeks to reduce fire-related injuries and deaths in those counties meeting the above criteria.
Smoke alarms can provide warning in the event of a life-threatening fire, allowing opportunity to escape. Individuals without smoke alarms in their residences are encouraged to participate in this program.
Participants in the program will receive fire prevention education and a smoke alarm professionally installed in their home at no charge. Supplies are limited. This program ends in June, 2006.
Residents who would like to learn more about participating in the MDH smoke alarm installation program may contact MDH toll-free at 1-800-721-7222.
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Press Contact: Liz Sharlot or Kelly French, (601) 576-7667 | 
