Take 2 for Safety: Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire prevention plan. When there’s a fire, smoke spreads throughout a structure very quickly but a working smoke alarm can give you and your family enough warning to allow everyone to escape to safety.

Did you know?

• Smoke alarms should be installed inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area, on each level of the home, and in areas such as kitchens and laundry rooms.
• More than 60% of all fire deaths occur in homes without operable smoke detectors.
• Ideally, all home smoke alarms should be interconnected so that if one detector alarms, all of the other detectors will go into alarm mode as well.
• Replace alkaline batteries in smoke detectors every year. New lithium type 9 volt batteries are now available that last for the life of the detector (10 years).
• Smoke alarms should only be installed high on a wall or on ceilings in designated areas. Avoid installing detectors within 10 horizontal feet from stoves and ovens.
• Replace all smoke alarms when have reached 10 years of age. Each detector should have a date of manufacture stamped or marked somewhere in or on the housing.

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