No one ever expects a disaster — especially one that happens suddenly. In a matter of moments lives can be devastated.

October is Fire Prevention Month. Every year more than 3,000 Americans die in house fires. Another 450 lives are lost to carbon monoxide poisoning. North Carolina is close to the national average of deaths and injuries caused by residential housefires: in 2017, there were 5.3 deaths and 23.9 injuries per 1,000 fires; the national average is 6.1 deaths and 24.5 injuries per 1,000. In 2018, there were 88 home fire fatalities in the state. There are 55 so far in 2019.

So what can be done to prevent home fire deaths? Smoke alarms go a long way in doing just that. The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly three of every five home fire deaths were due to that home having either no working smoke alarms or no smoke alarms at all. In 17% of those fires there were no working alarms in the house; 40% had no smoke alarms.

Those fires might not have been preventable, but the resulting deaths could have been.

This is why First Alert, a brand of home-safety products, Lowe’s Home Improvement and local fire departments across North Carolina are teaming up to spread awareness about the importance of home protection. On Oct. 12, Lowe’s in Washington and local firefighters will host fun, family-focused activities to teach families about the importance of fire safety, from equipping their homes with smoke and CO alarms to creating a fire escape plan. There will also be fire trucks and boats available for hands-on tours, a bouncy house, games, prizes and food.

Make fire safety go hand in hand with fun. The lesson can never be learned too young.

The lesson can also bear repeating for the not-so-young: in honor of Fire Prevention Month, check your smoke alarm batteries.