Smoke Alarms Can Save Your Life

4/26/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms are crucial in helping protect your home and business from fire damage.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms save lives when properly installed and maintained. 

At a minimum, there should be a smoke alarm in every bedroom in your home, outside of each sleeping area, and on each level. Additional alarms may be required in larger houses.

To maintain your smoke alarm, test each one on a monthly basis by pushing the "TEST" button. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries should be replaced every decade. For smoke alarms with replaceable batteries, it's advised to switch the batteries out annually, and replace the entire unit every ten years. In the event of a chirp alerting you to a low battery level, take immediate action to replace the old battery with a new one; never disable or completely remove a battery from a smoke alarm. In almost 50% of fires where smoke alarms were present, but did not function properly, this was due to a removed or disconnected battery.

If you require assistance to check, maintain, or replace your smoke detectors, contact your local fire department or an electrician.

Be sure that your household has a plan in place in the event of a fire emergency. Practice fire drills with your family regularly, to ensure that all family members are aware of what to do in case of a fire.