You know your home should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. However, if they are placed inadequately or non-functioning, they may not alert you of a fire, especially while you are asleep. Proper placement, maintenance and monitoring are important to protect you and your loved ones, no matter what hour of the day a fire breaks out.
Some Statistics to Consider
According to FEMA, three out of five home fire-related deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors. More than one-third of home fire-related deaths are the result of fires where no smoke detectors were installed. Also, the risk of dying in a home fire can be dramatically reduced just by installing and maintaining your home’s smoke detectors.
How to Ensure Your Smoke Detectors Do Their Job
A home should never have just one smoke detector. Instead, multiple alarms should be installed. Because half of home fire-related deaths occur between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am, it is even more important that you have enough alarms to notify those that are asleep. Some things to consider include:
- Every Room – Install smoke detectors inside every room and outside every sleeping area. Every level of the home, including your basement and attic should have working smoke detectors.
- Interconnected Units – Consider installing interconnected smoke alarms. This means that if one alarm sounds in one corner of the house, the rest of the alarms will start to go off as well, ensuring you will hear that alarm regardless of where you are.
- Test – Alarms should be tested once a month and batteries replaced as needed or at a minimum of once a year.
- Replace – Your smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years to ensure they stay in working order.
- Children – Even if you hear the alarm, do not assume small children will. Instead, have a plan in place to wake and help those smaller children to safety when an alarm sounds at night.
Having a residential home fire alarm can help reduce the risks of a fire going unnoticed. GuardMe Security can install our all-points fire protection, which includes smoke detectors on every floor and within critical areas. Using the latest technology, these systems not only alert you at the first sign of fire, but will also alert emergency personnel. You will not have to worry about missing the beep while you sleep!
