Did you change your smoke alarm batteries when you moved your clock back last nightDo you have a plan in case you have a fire in your homeDo you practice home fire drillsIf you answered no to anyone of these questions then the chances of escaping a fire in your home is very slim.Heres some information that could save someone you love and your life in the event you have a fire in your home.Smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries from fire and have contributed to the almost 50 decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s. It is estimated that 95 of U.S homes have at least one smoke alarm. Sixty-five percent of reported home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire.Facts figuresA 2004 U.S. telephone survey found that 96 of the households surveyed had at least one smoke alarm yet in 2000-2004 no smoke alarms were present or none operated in almost half 46 of the reported home fires. An estimated 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms. 65 of reported home fire deaths in 2000-2004 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51 less than the rate for homes without this protection. In one out of every five homes equipped with at least one smoke alarm installed not a single one was working. Why do smoke alarms fail Most often because of missing disconnected or dead batteries. Nuisance activations were the leading cause of disabled smoke alarms. SAFTEY TIPSTest your smoke alarms once a month following the manufacturers instructions. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year or as soon as the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low. Hint schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall. Never borrow a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms cant warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected. Dont disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding nuisance alarms try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound. Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms following the manufacturers instructions can keep them working properly. Smoke alarms dont last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you cant remember how old the alarm is then its probably time for a new one. Consider installing smoke alarms with long-life 10-year batteries. Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. Some studies have shown that some children may not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs. If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent relative to having neither a savings of thousands of lives a year. For more information on smoke alarms and home fire drills visit. www.nfpa.orgindex.aspClick on Learning Click on Public EducationFrom here you can pick fact sheets that give you fire safety information.
