Working Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are an important tool for preventing home fire deaths. If you have a fire in your home, working smoke alarms provide an early warning so you can quickly escape. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.

If your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, it’s time to replace it. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety devices to protect yourself, your family, and your home. Before you buy and install a home smoke alarm, follow these USFA tips:

* Choose smoke alarms that communicate with each other, so if one alarm sounds, they all will;

* Put smoke alarms on every level of your home, in every bedroom, and in the hallway outside of each sleeping area;

* Place smoke alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the best place for your alarm; and

* Use only qualified electricians to install hardwired smoke alarms.

For more information about smoke alarms, take a look at this USFA public safety announcement.