Smoke Alarms Save Lives!
Each year, about 3,500 Americans lose their lives in fires, and around 18,300 more are injured. Many of these deaths could be prevented with better knowledge of what to do in the event of a fire. One of the most crucial steps you can take to protect your family is ensuring your home has working smoke alarms with fresh batteries. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms dramatically reduce your risk of death or injury in a fire. They provide early warning, giving your family vital time to escape safely.
Learn the Sounds of Your Smoke Alarm
- Three loud, continuous beeps — beep, beep, beep — means smoke or fire. Evacuate immediately, call 9-1-1, and stay out of the building.
- A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds indicates the battery is low and needs to be replaced.
- Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Even if your alarm is still functioning, it’s important to follow this time frame for optimal safety.
- If chirping continues after the battery has been replaced, the alarm is at the end of its life and needs to be replaced.
- Ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. Make necessary adjustments so everyone can hear or be alerted to the warning signals.
By staying proactive with alarm maintenance, you can help ensure that your family is better protected in the event of a fire. Early detection saves lives—don’t wait until it’s too late.
Frequently Asked Questions:
There are many brands of smoke alarms available for purchase, but there are two basic types: photoelectric and ionization alarms. Ionization alarms sound quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs. Photoelectric alarms are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. Dual sensor smoke alarm combines ionization and photoelectric alarms in one. Hearing Impaired smoke alarms meet the needs of those with hearing disabilities. These alarms can be equipped with strobes that flash and/or vibrate.
Inside and outside all sleeping areas, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Since smoke and poisonous gases rise, installing smoke alarms on the ceiling is ideal and will provide the earliest detection.
Interconnected Smoke Alarms provide notification throughout the home. When one alarm is activated they all sound. These type of alarms can be wired directly into the home and will need a certified electrician to install and/or maintain them. You can also purchase smoke alarms with wireless technology, which uses radio frequency to transmit and receive messages. Battery operated smoke alarms can be installed with as little as a screwdriver. Follow the manufacturer instructions to install properly.
The entire smoke alarm needs to be replaced every 8-10 years.
Standard 9-volt batteries. Change your battery at least once a year during the time change in the spring or fall; it is an easy way to remember when to change the battery. Lithium batteries: Designed to last as long as the smoke alarm, 8-10 years. However, you still need to test smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work. Smoke alarms that are hard wired into your home will need a battery backup. These are typically a 9-volt battery. Standard battery powered alarms can either use 9-volt batteries or long lasting batteries, all of which can be found in local hardware stores. 9-volt batteries need to be replaced once per year. Long lasting batteries are intended to be installed when the smoke alarm goes in, and the entire unit (including the battery) can be replaced after 8-10 years. No matter what kind of battery you have, they will need to be tested every month.
