February’s Safety Tip is about Smoke Alarms and Escape plans. If this sounds familiar, it’s because The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) had designated smoke alarms as their topic of the year. With that said, repetition is good, Smoke alarms save lives. Escape plans save lives.
Per the NFPA smoke alarms prevent death in a home fire by 54%. Three out of five home fire deaths are related to either there being no smoke alarms in the home or smoke alarms that do not work properly. Smoke alarms are an inexpensive way to keep your loved ones safe and minimize property damage.
The NFPA recommends the following:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
- Smoke alarms need to meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. If there is someone that is hearing impaired, they may benefit from strobe lights and/or a pillow or bed shaker. These alarms are activated by the sound of your smoke alarm.
- Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button. If you hear a chirping sound, change the batteries. If this does not correct the chirping, call the local fire department for advice.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or don’t respond when tested.
As stated above, the life of a smoke alarm is typically 10 years. Smoke alarms may be hard wired or battery only. Some smoke alarms require that their batteries be replaced every two years. The newer smoke alarms contain a one-volt lithium battery that lasts 10 years. The lithium batteries are not replaceable.
When a smoke alarm is activated, it is necessary to make sure you and your family not only know what it sounds like but also know what to do. This is where your escape plan comes into play. To make sure that all family members know what the escape plan is, you need to put it in writing and practice it. If you have small children in the house, you need to practice more frequently. Small children may get scared when practicing the escape route, however, by practicing more frequently they will hopefully be less scared and more comfortable with what they need to do.
Here are the NFPA guidelines on creating an escape plan:
- Draw a floor plan or a map of your home.
- Show all the doors and windows.
- Mark two ways out of each room.
- Mark all the smoke alarms with SA. Smoke alarms should be in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
- Pick a family meeting place outside where everyone can meet. The meeting place should be a safe distance from home, such as a tree, light pole, or mailbox.
- If there is an upper level with an escape ladder, family members need to practice how to use it.
Once everyone is out of the house use your mobile phone to call 9-1-1 or go to a neighbor’s house to call. Make sure that everyone understands that once they are at the meeting place, that they are not to re-enter the home. Once you get out, stay out!
When there is an active fire, residents have two to three minutes to exit the home safely after the smoke alarm sounds. When practicing your home fire drills make two minutes the goal to get out of the home. If you have small children, part of your plan needs to include who is responsible for helping them.
Properly working smoke alarms and practiced escape plans save lives. Avoid being a statistic by routinely checking your smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly and practice your escape plan. Never disable your smoke alarms. Make your smoke alarms work for you.
