Three out of five home fire fatalities occur due to fires in homes that do not have smoke detectors or do not have working smoke alarms. Due to the importance of smoke alarms, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) chose “Don’t Wait — Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2016.
Is it time to replace your smoke alarms?
The NFPA has chosen to spotlight smoke alarm safety and education because survey data revealed that smoke alarms tend to be misunderstood. Keeping smoke alarms in good working conditions isn’t only a matter of changing the batteries when they start beeping. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
Do you know how old your smoke alarms are? You can check by looking at the date of manufacture on the back of smoke detector. It should be replaced 10 years from that date.
Smoke Alarms 101
According to the NFPA’s report on smoke alarms, dead batteries were the culprit in 24% of smoke alarm failures. Test your smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least twice per year. Many individuals find it helpful to change the batteries when changing clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
Your home should have smoke detectors installed in each bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on each level. Closed doors can prevent sound sleepers from noticing smoke, heat, and fire until it’s too late. Smoke detectors alert the household to danger quickly. Make sure your smoke detectors are interconnected so that if one alarm sounds, all the alarms sound.
Approximately 367,500 home structure fires were reported to U.S. fire departments in 2014. These fires resulted in 2,745 deaths, nearly 12,000 civilian injuries, and billions of dollars in damage. On an average day in the United States, seven people die in home fires. Making sure your smoke alarms are working properly can help keep you and your loved ones safe.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a fire, contact the experts at Schuerman Law today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
