Don’t wait, Click the Date

Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

Age matters when it comes to your smoke alarms.

Did you know that three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms? All smoke alarms need to be replaced when they are 10 years old or if they don’t respond when tested. Don’t wait-check the manufactures’s date on the back of your smoke alarms.

Smoke Alarm Basics:

*Make sure your smoke alarms have the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

*An ionization smoke alarm is usually more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is usually more responsive to smoldering fires. Both types of alarms or combination (photoelectric/ionization) alarms should be installed in the home.

*Smoke alarms and alert devices, called accessories are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Go to nfpa.org/safetytips to find out more.

*Install smoke alarms in every bedroom outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Larger homes may need additional alarms.

*For the best protection, install interconnected smoke alarms in your home. When one sounds they all sound.

*It is especially important to have interconnected smoke alarms if you sleep with the doors closed.

*Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance. Use a photoelectric alarm or an alarm with a “hush” button if the alarm is between 10 and 20 feet of a cooking appliance.

*If cooking fumes set off a smoke alarm, you can do one of the following:

-Move the smoke alarm farther away from the cooking appliance.

-Replace the smoke alarm with one that has a “hush” button, which will silence the alarm for a short period of time.

-Install the photoelectric type of smoke alarm.

*When installing follow the instructions that come with the smoke alarm.

Smoke alarm care:

*Always save the instructions that come with the alarms for testing and maintenance. Test alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.

*Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries are made to work for up to 10 years. If the alarm “chirps”, warning that the battery is low, replace the alarm with a new one.

*For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replaced the batteries at least once a year. If the alarm “chirps”, replace the battery right away.

*Replace all smoke alarms when  they are 10 years old or if they do not respond when tested. Look on the back of the alarm for the date.

*Replace combination sensor smoke/carbon monoxide alarms according to the instructions that come with the alarms.

When the alarm sounds:

*Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound and understands what to do when they hear the smoke alarm.

*Some people, especially children and older adults may need help to wake up. Make sure someone will wake them if the smoke alarm sounds.

*If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.

*Call the fire department from outside the home.

If there is a fire:

*If the smoke is blocking your door or first way out, use your second way out.

*Smoke is poisonous. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.

*If pets are trapped inside your home, tell firefighters right away. Never reenter a burning building.

*Before opening the door, feel the doorknob and then the door. If either is hot, leave the door closed and use your second way out.

*If you cannot get out, close the doors and cover the vents and cracks around the door with cloth or tape. Call 911 or the fire department.

For more fire-safety information:

nfpa.org/smokealarms

For fire-safety fun for the whole family:

sparky.org

To order any of our products, visit http://www.njpacatalog.org or call 1-800-344-3555.

National Fire Protection Association

One Batterymarch Park

Quincy, MA 02169-7471

Disclaimer: This information was taken from National Fire Protection Association pamphlet and I give them full credit for it. Please call the above numbers or email them for more information.