Most home fire deaths happen between 10 o’clock at night and 6 in the morning. Many victims die because of smoke and toxic gases, not the fire itself.
The best place for your smoke alarms:
- On every level of your home, including the basement and workshop
- Outside every bedroom
- On the ceiling or 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling on the wall.
- Keep them away from air vents.
Testing:
- Test the alarm batteries once a month.
- Press the test button with your finger.
- Replace the batteries once a year.
Maintenance:
- Clean the alarm following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Vacuum the grillwork on the detector periodically to keep it dust-free.
Preventing Nuisance Alarms:
- Move the alarm away from the kitchen or bathroom.
- Get a different type of smoke alarm, like a photoelectric that’s less sensitive to ommon causes of false alarms.
- Choose a smoke alarm that has a silencing feature, so nuisance alarms can be topped quickly and easily.
Smoke detectors can wake you and give you time to escape. When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for one that is accepted by an independent testing facility, such as Underwriters Laboratories or Factory Mutual.
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