According to Home Safety Council research indicates that 97 percent of homes have at least one smoke alarm. But one smoke alarm may not be enough and should be on every level of your home and many recommend putting a smoke alarm in every room.
According to the Dept. of Homeland Security, having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chances of dying in a fire by nearly half. Nearly one third of the residential fires and two-fifths of residential fatalities occur in homes with no smoke alarms.
Below are some guidelines from the Dept. of Homeland Security –
1. Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside bedrooms. If you keep your bedroom doors closed, place a
smoke alarm in each bedroom.
2. Check smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot reach the button easily, use a broom handle.
3. Change the batteries in your alarms at least once a year – perhaps
when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
4. Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do
– leave the building immediately by crawling low under the smoke
– when they hear it sound.
5. If cooking smoke sets off the alarm, do not disable it. Turn on the
range fan, open a window, or wave a towel near the alarm.
6. Do not remove the batteries to put in other appliances such as personal
stereos or games.
7. Smoke alarms wear out over time. Replace yours if it is 10 years
old or more.
8. Keep smoke alarms clean. Dust and debris can interfere with their
operation. Vacuum over and around your smoke alarm regularly.
9. Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm,
which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened.
10. Hard-wired smoke alarms with battery back-ups need to be tested
monthly and batteries replaced yearly.
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