HomeMy Public PortalAboutsmoke-detect-fire-factorsSMOKE ALARMS
SAVE LIVES
When fire strikes you may have
less than one minute to safely
get out of the building.
• Having working smoke
alarms in your home can
double your chances of survival
if a fire occurs.
• Home fire deaths have been cut
in half since the early 1970's
when smoke alarms were first
marketed.
...But they can't help you if they are missing
or don't work.
• Tragically about 3,000 people still die in
fires each year in the U.S.
• 40% of the fire deaths that occur each
year in the U.S. take place in the 4% of
homes without working smoke alarms.
...Be Safe, Be Aware, Be Protected
• Install smoke alarms throughout
your home.
• Test them monthly.
• Replace batteries when you change
your clocks.
• Never disable them or take out the
batteries while cooking.
Fires produce heat, smoke
and toxic gases.
Smoke alarms warn residents in
the event of a fire. They alert
you and give you a chance to leave
the building before your escape route
is blocked by deadly smoke, heat and
toxic gases.
When the alarm sounds:
• Leave the building.
• Get out, Stay out!
• Go to the family meeting place.
• Ca11 9-1-1 from a neighbor's home.
Special smoke alarms are
available for the hearing impaired.
The alarm can be wired to a light, which
flashes when the detector is in alarm. A
vibrating alert unit can also be used under a
pillow while the person is asleep.
Plan and practice a
home fire escape route.
• Have two ways out
of every room.
• Discuss the plan
so each member of
ESCAPE PLAN
FireFACTORS
Office of the State Fire Marshal • Department of Fire Services
P.O. Box 1025 State Road Stow, MA 01775 (978) 567-3300 www.mass.gov/dfs
DFS • June '10
the family understands what to do in case
of emergency.
• Choose a place outside the home where
family members can meet to be sure
everyone is safely out of the building.
Practice, practice, practice...
Conduct drills frequently so actions
become automatic behaviors.
• Hold a family fire drill during the day,
while everyone is awake and another one
at night while children are asleep to see
how they respond.
• Following the drill, make adjustments to
the plan.
• Does someone in the family, who may be
too young or physically impaired, need
assistance?
• An adult can go to their
room and help that person
to an escape route.
• If a child sleeps through the
alarm they may need to be
awakened by an adult.
• Consider purchasing a
folding escape ladder as
a secondary means of exit from
upper floors.
All homes need fire protection.
All homes in Massachusetts are required to
have smoke alarms and most are required to
have carbon monoxide alarms.
CHANGE
CHANGE YOUR BATTERY
Contact your local fire department and ask
about smoke alarm installation programs.
General guidelines for smoke
alarm placement:
• On every level of your home.
• In hallways outside the bedroom.
YOUR CLOCK
• At the top of open stairways.
• At the base of cellar stairs.
• Inside the bedroom for sound sleepers or
smokers.
• Contact your local fire department for
exact locations.
Types of Smoke Alarms
There are requirements for types of alarms
you must have when your home was built or
when selling it. It is strongly recommended
that everyone have:
• Photoelectric alarms only within 20' of
kitchens and baths.
• Photoelectric and ionization detection
20' beyond kitchens and baths (either
a dual detector or two separate
detectors).
Maintenance
• Once a month, vacuum or blow
out dust from the alarms.
• Push the test button.
• If the alarm uses regular batteries,
change them at least once a year. An
easy way to remember is to change
the batteries when you change your
clocks. A "chirping" sound indicates that
it's time to change the batteries.
• Don't paint smoke alarms!
10 -Year Lifespan
If your smoke alarms are ten years old or
more it's time to replace them with new ones.
There's a label on the alarm with the date of
manufacture. If it doesn't have a label, it's
already more than ten years old. If you don't
know how old they are it's best to install
new ones.
TEST SMOKE ALARMS MONTHLY