Day 16: No Laughing Matter

Today I am grateful. Today I am lucky. Today I am blessed.

99 Days of Laughter has been all about the joy of Samantha's laughter and has also been about the journey of being her mother. Today, unfortunately, is not all about laughter, in fact it is no laughing matter at all.


At 6:14am this morning, our main floor fire alarm did not go off.

Sometime, between 2am and 6am, the element in my bread maker turned on and did not shut off. Josh, luckily, woke up to the smell of the smoke and we were able to find the source of the smoke and put it out safely. I was terrified! How could something like that have happened? I really do not understand what happened or why the bread maker turned on, but the reality is...it happened...and we are all lucky.

Sadly, on average, fire kills eight Canadians every week. Residential property fires account for 40% of all fires and a staggering 73% of all fire deaths. (From Fire Prevention Canada) To think that we may not have woken up this morning and passed away quietly in our sleep from smoke inhalation is petrifying! Or even worse, what would have happened if Samantha hadn't woken up!

That being said, I urge you to please check the batteries in your smoke alarm on a monthly basis and to update your smoke alarm at least every 5 years. In the least, push the button when the clocks change! Today, all of our fire alarms were replaced with smoke/fire alarms. They were tested and are now ready to tell me when I burn my next pot; which most likely will be sooner rather than later.

To keep you and your family safe here are a few more fire safety tips for you:

1) Use a timer to remind you when your oven or burners need to be switched off

2) Check electrical appliances regularly: electrical blankets, heating pads, curling irons, radios, televisions, irons.

3) Chimneys should be checked at least once a year.

4) Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, garage and bedroom closet. This will keep them close at hand, especially in the middle of the night while you and your family is asleep.

5) Remember to regularly check your alarms. Daylight Savings is a great reminder, if you cannot remember on a regular basis!