Fire Safety and Prevention

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

Statistics show that you have a 50% greater chance of escaping a fire in your home by having at least one operating smoke alarm. Here are some tips on how to use smoke alarms.

• Your home should have smoke alarms on every level (even the basement). It's especially important to have them outside of each sleeping area.

• http://www.kidsmartcorp.com/ recommends installing a SignalONE Safety, Vocal Smoke Alarm for bedrooms if you have children. Watch the video on their website to find out why.

• If you sleep with the door closed, have grown-ups consider having interconnected alarms installed. These alarms (installed by a qualified electrician) are connected so that if one sounds, they all sound.

• Smoke Alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings. Remember: smoke rises.

• Check to make sure the batteries in the smoke alarms work. Have a grown-up test them once a month. Batteries should be replaced AT LEAST once a year, or when you hear the alarm "chirp", that means that the battery is low. A good rule to follow is: "Change your Clock, Change your Battery"

• How old is that alarm anyway? Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. And if no one can remember how old it is, it's probably time to replace it.

• Consider installing a 10 Year Lithium Battery Smoke Detector.

• Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm.

• Never paint or decorate a smoke alarm (even with stickers!) because this could keep it from working properly.

• Make sure that everyone in your home knows the sound of the smoke alarm, and knows exactly what to do if the alarm goes off. Have a grown-up sound the alarm at night to make sure that everyone wakes up. If they don't, make sure to factor that into your escape plan (PDF*, 107 KB). "Talking" Smoke Alarms are now available to help alert "sound sleepers" in the event of a fire.

• When the alarm sounds, get out. Always assume that when the smoke alarm sounds there is an actual fire and follow your escape plan(PDF*, 107 KB).

Some Items Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. B)2004 NFPA

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