SMOKE ALARM SAFETY TIPS
Smoke alarms save lives. Almost
two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes
with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. When there
is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to
give you time to get out.
Safety tips
- Install smoke alarms in every
bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on
every level of the home, including the basement.
Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When
one sounds, they all sound.
- An ionization smoke alarm is
generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a
photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive
to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types
of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and
ionization) should be installed in homes.
- Test alarms at least monthly by
pushing the test button.
- Smoke rises; install smoke alarms
following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or
on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for
testing and maintenance.
- Replace batteries in all smoke alarms
at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the
battery is low, replace the battery right away.
- Replace all smoke alarms, including
alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms,
when they are 10 year old or sooner if they do not
respond properly.
- Be sure the smoke alarm has the label
of a recognized testing laboratory
- Alarms that are hard-wired (and
include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified
electrician.
- If cooking fumes or steam sets off
nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that
has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the
alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
- An ionization alarm with a hush
button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the
alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
- Smoke alarms that include a
recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual
alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through
the use of a familiar voice.
- Smoke alarms are available for people
who are deaf or hard of hearing . These devices use
strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these
alarms
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Fire Prevention
Does your School or
Organization have a need for a fire prevention program? If
you live in the City of Carbondale then the Carbondale
Firefighters could help you out.
We do many programs for
people of all ages, whether it be a preschooler or a senior
citizen.
Just give a phone call to
fire headquarters and we will come to you or you can bring
your group to us.
(570)282-3340 |
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