Install smoke detectors
Smoke detectors can save your life, your family and your home, but only if you maintain them properly and install them in the right places.
Safety experts advise homeowners and renters to install at least one smoke detector on every floor of their home. Reports from the National Fire Protection Association show U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 358,500 home structure fires per year during 2011-2015, which represents three-quarters of all structure fires. $6.7 billion in direct damage, or 68% of total direct damage in structure fires.
Having working smoke detectors installed on every level of your home dramatically increases your chances of survival. By providing an early warning in the event of a fire, smoke detectors allow you and your family sufficient time to reach safety. Your risk of dying in a home fire is literally cut in half by having a working smoke detector installed.
Additional Tips
Butler County Fire District # 3 offers some additional tips for purchasing, maintaining and placing smoke detectors:
- When you purchase a smoke detector, look for the UL Mark on the product as well as the packaging. The UL Mark indicates that UL evaluated representative samples of the smoke detector for your safety.
- Although one smoke detector can help save your life, several may be needed to adequately protect your home and your family. Install at least one on every floor of your home including the basement and outside each sleeping area.
- If you sleep with the door closed, install smoke detectors inside the room.
- Because smoke rises, detectors should be mounted high on walls and ceilings.
- Smoke detectors should not be installed near a window, door or forced-air register, where drafts could interfere with their operation.
- To keep smoke detectors in good working order, test them at least once a month. Testing familiarizes you and your family with the life-saving signal that the detector makes.
- A good cleaning helps eliminate dust that collects on smoke detectors – dust can cause a nuisance detector. Clean your detector as instructed in the owner’s manual.
- Don’t allow anyone to disconnect or “borrow” the batteries from your smoke detector. A smoke detector can’t work unless it’s connected to a power source.
- Remember to change batteries in all smoke detectors twice a year.
- Replace your entire smoke detector every 10 years, or as the manufacturer recommends.
Fire Escape Plan
In addition to working smoke detectors, Butler County Fire District # 3 also recommends that you develop and practice a fire escape plan with your family. Family members should never return to a burning building for any reason. Property can be replaced but lives can’t.