Daylight saving time is a good time to replace batteries in smoke detectors. The National Fire Protection Association recommends placing smoke detectors in every occupied bedroom as well as on every floor in a house, and place them away from the stove in a kitchen to prevent false alarms.

There are many causes of home fire related deaths, but the majority of these tragedies are caused by not having smoke alarms or having smoke alarms that don’t work. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms, or non-functional smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms are essential to protecting the people in your house from home fires. Take a few minutes today to ensure your home has the appropriate number of smoke alarms and that they are properly located and regularly tested and maintained.

Properly Maintain Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarm safety only works when alarms are properly maintained. The following tips will help ensure your smoke alarms remain in proper working order:

• Test units monthly.
• Install new batteries immediately when the low-battery warning alarm sounds or at least once a year. 
• Clean smoke alarms regularly by vacuuming them with a brush attachment.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years to achieve optimum performance.

Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly.

NFPA notes that in house fires where the smoke alarms did not sound, it was discovered that half of them had missing or disconnected batteries.

SAFETY TIPS

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.
• It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
• Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
• Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology including multi-sensing, which could include smoke and carbon monoxide combined.
• A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
• Smoke alarms and alert devices are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Everyone in your home should recognize the sound of your smoke alarm and hear it from their bedrooms.

This is especially important because according to NFPA half of home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m.

and 7 a.m., when most people are sleeping.