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Home Safety 101 - Smoke Alarms

 


Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is

a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a great flyer for you to download on Smoke Alarms that covers all this information on it. 



SAFETY TIPS 

  • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.

  • Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. • It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.

  • Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.

  • Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology including multi-sensing, which could include smoke and carbon monoxide combined.

  • Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet mitigate false alarms. • A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.

  •  People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers. 

  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.


  • A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. • Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level. Smoke alarms should be connected so when one sounds, they all sound. Most homes do not have this level of protection. • Roughly 3 out of 5 fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.


I hope that this information will help keep your family and home safe. I thank the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for their commitment to educating everyone on Smoke Alarms.  If you know someone that could benefit from this information please forward it on. Check out my Val Cares Page on my website for more Safety Tips.

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