OCTOBER 2014 SUNRAYS | 11
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Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives
National Fire Prevention Week - October 5 – 11
It’s a simple fact that working smoke alarms
save lives and cut your risk of dying in a home
fire by half. But, did you know that not all smoke
alarms are created equal? In fires large enough
to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms
operated 93%of the time, while battery powered alarms operated
only 79% of the time.
When a smoke alarm fails to operate, it is often due to missing,
disconnected, or dead batteries; but, in some homes, it could also
be the result of an alarm in need of replacement. The recom-
mended lifespan of a smoke alarm is about ten years. How long
have you been living in your home? Did you personally install
your own alarms? If you think your smoke alarmmight be more
than ten years old, you should consider replacing it now.
IONIZATION VS. PHOTOELECTRIC ALARMS
There are two kinds of smoke alarms available for your home.
An ionization smoke alarm responds best in situations involving
flaming fires. Photoelectric smoke alarms genrally are more re-
sponsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, or in homes
where extra time might be needed to awaken or assist others,
both types of alarms, or combination ionization and photoelectric
alarms are recommended. When replacing your alarm, make
sure your replacements are all from the same manufacturer. All
alarms should be tested monthly.
WHAT’S YOUR ESCAPE PLAN?
What would you do if there was a fire in your home? Having an
escape plan that recognizes all possible exits could save your
life. Take a look around your home. Make sure never to block
your doors or windows. Identify two ways out of each room, if
possible. Discuss this plan with your family and agree upon
a safe and easily accessible location where everyone can meet
in the event of an emergency. In Sun City, a good meeting spot
could be at your mailbox. Here you can call 911 and make sure
that all residents are accounted for. Do not return to the home,
as you could become trapped.
common causes of fires
The most common causes of fires are cooking, heating, smoking,
faulty wiring and candles. Lightning, though uncommon, can
also be the cause. In the instance of a lightning strike, assume
that there is a fire and leave immediately. Go to your meeting
place and call the fire department from outside the home. Do
not investigate the lightning strike yourself. Don’t open the attic
door to see if there is fire in the attic. Don’t reset the electrical
breakers if they have tripped. The electrical wiring might be
damaged and a fire could result from the damage.
Finally, remember: Fire Prevention Week may last only a few
days, but following these tips will keep you and your loved ones
safe all year long.
Portions reproduced from NFPA’s
Fire PreventionWeek website, www.
firepreventionweek.org. ©2014NFPA.
