Learn about home safety devices. Each year thousands of people die from fire related injuries. Installing a simple smoke detector and carbon monixide detector is a easy way to protect your home and family.
Each year over 5,000 people die from fire related injuries. Installing a simple smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector can help protect your home and family.
WHERE TO PUT SMOKE DETECTORS
Every home is required by their city and state safety codes to have at least one smoke detector in each level of the house including the basement. Smoke detectors should be installed in other high fire hazard areas as well like the kitchen, furnace or utility room and in all hallways where bedroom doors are located.
WHAT TYPE OF DETECTORS ARE AVAILABLE?
Hard-wired smoke detectors are detectors that are incorporated into the electrical system of the house and can often be found in new construction homes. They are especially beneficial because they do not require batteries but do have a battery unit that will kick in where there to be a power failure.
Battery powered smoke detectors are also available at all good home centers and hardware stores. They are very inexpensive and are easy to install well-hung units.
INSTALLATION
Detectors will generally come complete with a pair of mounting screws and instructions. Remember that heat rises and so does smoke so you will want to install your smoke alarm on the ceiling or at arms reach right below the ceiling on the wall. To insure that your fire alarm will be secure, use an electronic stud finder to make sure it is screwed into your homes framing studs.
TESTING YOUR SMOKE ALARM
It is estimated that over 30 percent of detectors in homes have dead batteries! National safety agencies suggest that you test or replace your batteries in the spring and fall. If you live in a state and country that utilizes daylight savings time, check your batteries when you reset your clocks.
Detectors have a test button that can be pushed to test the unit and make sure it is working properly. Some units are also designed to produce a beeping or intermittent chirping noise if the batteries are low.
Families are encouraged to hold fire safety drills just as elementary and pre-school age children do. October is National Safety month and is a good time of year to get in the habit of having a family counsel to draw out a escape route for your family members both young and old. Have a backup plan incase your original path is blocked too. Choose a meeting place that is easily visible from your home but that would be out of the way of fire-trucks and possible falling debris. Set off your alarm so that the family can here the sound and remember what it signifies. Have several practice runs to put your fire escape plan into action.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR
Although we are encouraged to seal off our homes from all drafts and air leaks in the winter to conserve energy, this practice also adds to the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Typically this gas is produced by a furnace, small camp stove, lantern or other heating appliance. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and deadly.
Carbon monoxide detectors often look just like smoke detectors and are mounted with screws in the same way smoke detectors are also. They should be mounted in the same places in your home as smoke detectors are, but also in temporary sleeping locations like campers, RV's, vacation campers, etc. If you are going hunting or fishing and will be camping in a tent or sleeping in your vehicles there are also portable carbon monoxide detectors that can protect your adventure from ending tragically.
If you or your family has flu like symptoms during the heating season and experience headaches and nausea mixed with drowsiness, these are carbon monoxide symptoms you may be experiencing.
With the modern technology available, it is our responsibility to use these products to protect our home and family from harm.
