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the Fire Department
Smoke
Detectors
Call
288-7677 for free smoke detectors
 Smoke
detectors can save your life and those of your family.
Most fatal house fires occur at night, while people are asleep.
As the fire spreads, toxic gases and thick smoke begin to
accumulate. These products of combustion can cause you
to become disoriented and limit your visibility inside your
home. If you're asleep, you cannot rely on your own
senses to detect a fire.
Selecting
a Smoke Detector
When
you are selecting a smoke detector, some simple tips can help
ensure the safety of your family. First, the detector
should display the marking of a recognized independent testing
laboratory such as Underwriters Lab (UL) along with being
listed and approved for sale, installation, and home use.
Good detectors should also have a warning signal that alerts
you when batteries need replacement. Lastly, the smoke
detectors alarm must be loud enough to wake a sleeping person
behind a closed door. Special detectors are available
for
persons with hearing difficulties.
Installation
and Placement
Smoke
detectors should be placed within 10 feet of sleeping areas,
and at least 1 detector should be installed on each
level of your home. The detector should be mounted on
the ceiling or high on the wall (6-12 inches below the ceiling),
and should never be placed in a dead air space such as in
a corner. Other areas to avoid when installing smoke
detectors would include areas near heating ducts and cold
air returns because the increased airflow around these areas
could prevent smoke filled air from accumulating to a sufficient
amount to activate the alarm.
Maintenance
Always
consult the manufacturer's recommendation for testing the
smoke detector. Activating the testing mechanism once
a month should be sufficient. Remember to "Change
Your Battery When You Change Your Clock". Batteries
should be replaced when you change your clocks in the Spring
and Fall. Most battery powered detectors will "chirp"
periodically to alert you that the battery is weak and requires
changing. Simple maintenance such as vacuuming the detector
at the time you change the batteries will reduce the number
of false alarm activations.
When
the Alarm Sounds
In
the event that your smoke detector sounds, you should immediately
exit your home to a prearranged meeting location outside of
the house. This will help account for everyone's safety.
Make sure each family member knows two ways to escape from
any room in the house.
 If
you must go through a smoke-filled area, crawl on your hands
and knees and stay low near the floor. There will be
less smoke and heat at the floor level. Always check
doors for heat before opening to prevent walking into the
fire! Once
you are outside, and all your family members are safe, call
911 from a neighbor's house or the nearest
phone outside your house. Never return to the inside
of a burning building for any reason.
Smoke
detectors are an important part of protecting you and your
loved ones from the dangers of fire. Remember, smoke
detectors save lives!
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