“It’s unfortunate to report that the number of fire fatalities do to no or non-working smoke alarms is on the rise says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Reports also show that roughly one-third of the tens of millions of smoke detectors installed in homes are not in proper working condition.”
Replace batteries at least twice a year. A good time to remember to change the batteries is when the time changes and you change your clocks. Never borrow batteries from smoke detectors for other purposes. If you have problems with nuisance alarms, do not disconnect your detector. Try another location or another model of detector, but keep your home protected.
Test your smoke detectors at least once a month. It takes only a moment to test a smoke detector that could save your life. Clean your smoke detectors at least twice a year to remove cobwebs and dust that can degrade the unit’s sensitivity. Never paint any part of a smoke detector.
If a room has a high pitched ceiling, mount the unit at or near the ceiling’s highest point. When installing a detector in a stairway, position the detector in the path smoke would follow up the stairwell. Don’t install a detector near a window, door, forced-air register, or fireplace, where drafts could detour smoke away from the unit.
For additional information contact your local fire department and visit: www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/smoke_alarms.html
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
