Importance of a Working Smoke Detector

8/6/2018 (Permalink)

A working smoke detector can give your family time to escape a fire.

Importance of a Working Smoke Detector

We took a call from a client who got an unpleasant early morning wake up call: her smoke alarm was going off.  She awoke to discover a small electrical fire had started in her kitchen.  With the early warning, her son and her were able to put out the fire and minimize the damage before it spread.  Now, imagine, if a fire started in the early hours in your home, while everyone was sleeping….and there was no Smoke Detector to awaken you and your family?

Since they came onto the market in the early 70’s, smoke detectors have reduced fire fatalities roughly in half.  Most fire fatalities are from smoke inhalation, a working smoke detector can get you responding sooner!

Here are some Smoke Detector tips to help keep your family safe:

• A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement. Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
• 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.
• 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.
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

If you and your family do experience a fire, call upon your Fire Restoration Experts at SERVPRO of Benton and Linn County today!  541-745-2097