Smoke Alarm

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of East Evansville we hope no one ever has to face the tragedy of a house fire, but we want everyone to be prepared if they do.  There are many things to help a family better prepared for a house fire.  Having a working smoke alarm is the topic of today.

 A Working Smoke Alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire. 

Here are a few bullet points to help you ensure that the smoke alarm in your home is the lifesaving tool that it is.

• Install both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
• Test batteries monthly.
• Replace batteries in battery-powered and hard-wired smoke alarms at least once a year (except non-replaceable 10-year lithium batteries).
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8-10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking – it can be a deadly mistake.

Smoke Alarm Safety for People with Access or Functional Needs

• Audible alarms for visually impaired people should pause with a small window of silence between each successive cycle so that they can listen to instructions or voices of others.
• Smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired. Contact your local fire department for information about obtaining a flashing or vibrating smoke alarm.
• Smoke alarms with a strobe light outside the home to catch the attention of neighbors, and emergency call systems for summoning help, are also available