Take 2 for Safety: Smoke Alarms
August 31, 2018
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.