Protect your family

Friday, November 4, 2011

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms.

So, how many smoke alarms do you have? One? That’s probably not enough. Two? Still probably not enough.

Here are the recommendations from the Association:

•Install smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

•For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound.

•Use photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms, also known as dual sensor alarms. An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires.

•Replace all smoke alarms every 10 years or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.

•Test all smoke alarms at least once a month by using the test button.

Why? Here are the findings from the association’s report called “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires”:

•The death rate per 100 reported fires was twice as high in homes without a working smoke alarm as it was in homes with smoke alarm protection.

•Out of all home fire deaths, 38 percent resulted from fires in which no smoke alarms were present.

•Hardwired smoke alarms are more reliable than those powered solely by batteries.

OK, a lot of this seems designed to sell more smoke alarms, and that is not necessarily a bad thing, but the odds of most of us following all these recommendations are long, to say the least.

But the fact that there are people who have no smoke alarms in their homes is frightening. It isn’t as if smoke alarms are terribly expensive, so why are some people rolling the dice? And it doesn’t take a lot of effort to check them now and then.

They could save your life.

If you do not have a smoke alarm, for crying out loud go out right now and get one. No, do not wait until “Judge Judy” is over. They’ll repeat the show eventually. Go now. The life you save may be … your kid’s.