July.

Many of Indiana fire deaths were in homes with non-working smoke alarms Indiana Mortuary Emergency Response Team (I-MERT) and Indiana Disaster Portable Mortuary Unit (I-DPMU) work together in a mass casualty incident that has overwhelmed local resources. But what's the difference between the two? The Indiana Disaster Portable Mortuary Unit (I-DPMU) has an operational team made up of volunteers from Indiana Department of Homeland Security personnel. The team sets up and manages the morgue and provides assistance during local disaster response. The portable mortuary unit is designed to relieve overwhelmed morgues where a disaster has occurred. It has all of the necessary tools to properly identify and process the deceased. I-DPMU positions that require medical and scientific education are staffed by working professionals who volunteer with the I-MERT. The people who make up the I-MERT are funeral directors, pathologists, anthropologists, dental assistants, State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson, is reminding Hoosiers that it is not only crucial, it is the law (IC 22-11-18-3.5) to have a working smoke alarm in every home. As of June 19, 55 lives have been lost so far this year, many due to either non working, or no smoke alarms at all, compared to 46 for all of 2012. Working smoke alarms can double the chances of surviving a residence fire. Greeson urges all Hoosiers to have working smoke alarms in their homes. " Smoke alarms save lives, and a working smoke alarm is one of the best options against becoming a casualty in a house fire, " said Greeson. " Firefighters too often find that in fatal fires, a home had smoke alarms but their batteries had been removed or they were dead. " Most home-fire casualties occur at night when people are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can induce a deep sleep, decreasing the chances of survival. Here is what some experts recommend regarding smoke alarms: