house and garden header







smoke detector

Having an up to date smoke alarm can save your life and the people close to you

By Vanessa Kearns

My daughter absolutely hates the sound of a smoke alarm. When she was a little over a year old, my husband burned some food while cooking and the smoke alarm went crazy, scaring her terribly. She screamed and screamed for almost 30 minutes. Ever since then, she is afraid to walk under it. The blinking light letting us know that it is there and ready to operate is something that she truly cannot stand. Now that she’s three years old, she knows what the purpose of the smoke alarm really is. She still is cautious around it but at least she also knows that it is there to keep us safe. That makes her a bit calmer about it.

Having a smoke alarm, or several, in your house can save many lives. A smoke detector is an effective early warning device and the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you precious time to escape. An up to date and fully functional smoke detector is the best way to save your life and the lives of the people close to you . Whether you’re asleep or awake, hearing the shrill alarm sounding can make anyone move a lot faster. So far, (knock on wood), we’ve been lucky. Whenever the smoke alarm has gone off in my household it is for some known reason. If you open our stove and a gust of steam exits, it can cause the smoke alarm systems to come to life. When the batteries are getting low, it has been known to fool us as well. I can’t say that we mind though, at least we know that they are working. I’m just hoping that it will work perfectly should the need arise.

Children should be taught at young ages to know what a smoke alarm is and what it is used for? And a house should always have at least one or two smoke alarms in them. Ideally, a smoke detector should be located in scattered areas. Perhaps you don’t want to put a smoke alarm in the kitchen because it could go off whenever you cook. Perhaps mount it in the next room or a different area of the kitchen. A smoke alarm should also be in a hallway near bedrooms. This way, everyone will wake up and can escape in a timely manner. If there is a family member that is hard of hearing or children that seemingly sleep through anything, there are smoke alarms and emergency devices that can wake them or alert them in other ways.

Depending on where you go and what your budget is, a smoke detector does not cost too much. Besides, isn’t a small investment better than losing your family members or a home? That is one of the best investments that you can make security. It is one of the simplest single steps you can take to cut the risk of dying from fire. A regular mantenance checkup is essential to make sure you smoke detector alarm system is working by tetsting it on a regular basis. Check that the batteries are always charged and in working order.

A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you precious time to escape. It is a battery operated or electrically connected device that senses the presence of visible or invisible particles produced by combustion and that is designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite within which it is located. A smoke detector is an effective early warning device designed to detect smoke and alert building occupants to the presence of a fire. A smoke alarm system is the best way to save your life and the lives of the people close to you in case of a fire. It is a warning device that detects smoke when a fire starts. Batteries weaken with age and must be regularly checked and replaced (generally once a year). A smoke alarm is the simplest single step you can take to cut the risk of dying from fire. Most DIY stores, hardware and electrical shops, many supermarkets and department stores carry a range of smoke alarms, the majority of which are battery powered and easy to install and cost around $5 to $25.

Here are some helpful facts and tips on Smoke Alarms

A smoke detector system is a battery operated or hard wired electrically connected device that senses the presence of visible or invisible particles produced by combustion and is designed to sound an alarm within the room within which it is located. Smoke dectectors work by sensing the rising smoke from a fire and sounding an alarm. A smoke alarm is an effective early warning device designed to detect smoke and alert building occupants to the presence of a fire.Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by enabling residents to detect fires early in their development.

Regular testing, cleaning and maintenance is essential

In 85% of the cases where the alarm did not activate, it was due to a dead or missing battery/power source. Test, clean and maintain your smoke alarm each week by using the test button, change the batteries at least once a year and never remove the batteries to disable the alarm because of smoke from day to day cooking. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions on recommended batteries and regular maintenance tips. Working smoke detector systems are needed in every home and residence and should be placed wherever there is a bedroom, and an alam in every room would be a great investment. Direct open flames from matches, lighters or candles should not be used to test smoke alarms. If your battery-powered smoke alarm system begins to emit a low-power warning, usually a chirping sound, replace the battery immediately with a fresh one. For maximum protection install one in every room, read the manufacturers instructions thoroughly and follow the directions for installation and operation. By properly selecting, placing, testing, and maintaining your smoke alarm, you will greatly increase your chances of surviving a home fire.

Fire Safety Tips

Safety is about caring for children, young people and the aged in our homes and neighbourhoods. Never leave a fireplace or open flame such as candles unattended. A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you precious time to escape. Make sure you call the fire department before attempting to extinguish a small fire on your own. Always have a charged and properly tested working fire extinguisher in your kitchen for small fires. Keep the phone number of the fire department beside your telephone where the whole family knows where it is. The quickest way to get an emergency response if fire breaks out is to simply dial 911.

Fire escape Safety Plan

Every family should develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year along with alternate ways out of each room in the house. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends these measures because working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan will increase your protection in case of a fire. Because children, older people, and those with special needs may not wake up to the sound of a smoke alarm, parents and caregivers must incorporate this possibility into the home fire escape plan.

When practicing your home fire escape plan, make sure all escape routes are clear. Practice the fire escape plan with your children, baby-sitter, and older family members. If children, or any other family member, cannot awaken to or hear the smoke alarm, the escape plan should be adjusted accordingly to help get all family members out safely. Don't wait for a fire in your home to test your smoke alarm and develop a fire escape plan today. Have a plan on how to escape, in two different ways, from each room in your home or business and practice it. The presence of smoke in escape routes is the greatest impediment to safe escape in the event of fire and therefore smoke alarms should be installed in the circulation areas.

Teach your children how to escape in case of a fire -- not to hide under a bed or in a closet. You should be aware of this when developing your home fire escape plan. This way, everyone will wake up and can escape in a timely manner. Agree on a meeting place outside where everyone can gather after they escape.







More Articles - House and Garden Information - Barbecue Covers - Country Houses to Rent - Estimating Construction Costs - Granite Counters - Hanging Flower Baskets - Homes for Rent by Owners - How to remove Tree Stump - Indoor Hot Tub - Inexpensive Wines - Leather Photo Albums - Outdoor Fireplaces - Self Inflating Air Mattress - Wicker Day Bed - ADT Security Alarms - Bedding for Children - How to buy a House - Selling your House - Wrought Iron Bedroom Furniture - Backyard Putting Green - Comforter Set - Foam Mattress Pads - King Size Mattress - Luxury Sheets - Gardening Glove - Gardening Tools - Backyard Landscaping - Country Style Curtains - Baby Quilt Kits - Bird Baths - Black and White Bedding - Mattress Pads - Queen Size Mattresses - Home Theater Projectors - Indoor Herb Garden - Leather Furniture Conditioner - Self Portrait Art - Upholstered Chair - Child Bedroom Furniture - Childrens Bedding - Closet Systems - Country Pine Furniture - Fiber Optic Lighting - House and Garden - Interior Design Jobs - Plasma Flat Screen TV - Solar Swimming Pool Heating - Wildlife Feeders - Alarm Monitoring - Decoraging Ideas for a Living Room - Decorative Fireplace Screens - Discount Laminate Flooring - Mattress Covers - Smoke Alarm -


© Copyright 2007 www.HouseAndGardenInfo.com All Rights Reserved