Smoke Alarms Save Lives

3/27/2017 (Permalink)

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

According to NEPA, “ More than 1.3 million fires are reported in the United
States each year.” Nearly two-thirds of these fires are death related, occurring in homes with no working smoke alarms or no alarms present at all.

Smoke Alarm Safety

These fires area also responsible for more than 17,000 injuries and over 3,000 deaths. Smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives, and when they are properly installed, can reduce the risk of fire injury in half.

• Install Smoke Alarms in every bedroom.

Smoke alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

• Not in the Kitchen.

Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. (Generally, they should be at least ten feet from a cooking appliance).

• Test at least once a month.

It is important to maintain and regularly test the alarms to ensure they are in proper working order.

• Replace batteries.

Batteries in the smoke alarm should be replaced at least once a year. In the circumstance that the alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

• Replacing Smoke Alarms.

Each smoke alarm should be replaced every ten years.

                                           Create a Plan

Smoke alarms work best when paired with an escape plan. Creating a plan for an emergency fire situation, allows for a safe and quick escape. For tips or information on emergency preparedness, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Cayce/ West Columbia and Lexington at (803)755-9774.