Keep your family and home safe from fire damage by maintaining your smoke alarms

5/29/2015 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms have been a staple in the American home, but should not go unnoticed or taken for granted. According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties that did not have working smoke alarms. The death rate per 100 reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms. Most smoke alarm failures are due to missing, disconnected or dead batteries. According to the NFPA, there are precautions to take when it comes to maintaining and checking your smoke alarms.

Smoke alarm safety tips

·      Install smoke alarms inside and outside of each bedroom or sleeping area. Every level of the home, including the basement should have smoke alarms installed.

·      It is recommended to have interconnected smoke alarms so that when one smoke alarm goes off, they all go off at once.

·      Test all smoke alarms at least once a month by hitting the test button on the smoke alarm.

·      Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or high up on a wall.

·      Replace all smoke alarms at 10 years of use.

·      People that are hard of hearing can order special smoke alarms that include flashing strobe lights and bed shakers to alert the person within the property.

·      Make sure to talk with your children about the importance of smoke alarms and what to do in case of a fire.

·      There are two kinds of alarms: ionization and photoelectric

    o   Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires

    o   Photoelectric smoke alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires                          o   It is best to have both present in the home

Source - http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/fire-and-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms/safety-messages-about-smoke-alarms