SMOKE DETECTORS
A Sound For Life!
If there were to be a fire in your home tonight, would your family survive? Most residential fire deaths occur between 11pm and 7am. This is the time of the greatest danger, when people are asleep. The primary killer is smoke and poisonous gases which overcome victims as they sleep. From the time a fire breaks out, there is a limited amount of time that a person has to escape. With the early warning of a smoke detector, you can be awakened during the early stages of a fire while escape is still possible.
With properly placed and maintained smoke detectors you increase your chances of survival by 50%. In fact, many communities have regulations requiring at least one smoke detector be installed in homes. For minimum protection, smoke detectors should be installed outside of each bedroom or sleeping area. It is also suggested that at least one should be placed on the other levels of your home for additional protection. Placement of your smoke detectors is very important. Since smoke rises, the detector should be mounted on the ceiling for best protection. If you are forced to mount it on a wall, the top of the detector should be 4–12 inches from the ceiling and at least 3 feet from any corner. A ceiling mounted detector should be mounted at least 4 inches from any wall. Take care to keep the detector away from drafts created by fans or air ducts. If a hallway leading to bedrooms is more than 40 feet long, a detector should be placed at both ends.
Once you've installed your smoke detectors, their maintenance is very important. Your detector should be tested a minimum of once a month by pressing the test button. Replace your batteries using the proper type according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Dust and cobwebs and impair the sensitivity of the detector, so be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning.
For additional information on the purchase and placement of smoke detectors,
contact the Fire Prevention office at (508) 261-7492
|
