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Smoke Alarms
On average, 8 people die in a home fire each day in the U.S.—almost 3,000 people every year. While working smoke alarms cut the
chance of dying in a fire nearly in half, roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms,
according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Newer smoke alarm recommendations and technologies now provide greater levels of home fire protection than ever before.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of these advances and lack the recommended level of residential smoke alarm protection as a
result. Their homes may not be equipped with the appropriate number of alarms, or they may be relying on outdated or nonfunctional
devices.
The following tips will ensure smoke alarms are installed and working properly:
Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Avoid locating
alarms near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows, and ceiling fans.
For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected, so that they all sound if one sounds. Manufacturers are now
producing battery operated alarms that are interconnected wirelessly.
For the most comprehensive protection, consider combination smoke alarms that include both ionization and photoelectric
alarms. An ionization alarm is more responsive to flames, while a photoelectric alarm is more responsive to a smoldering fire.
Test smoke alarms on a monthly basis by pressing the “TEST” button.
Batteries for battery-operated or battery back-up alarms should be replaced at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps” or “beeps”
at any time to indicate a low battery, it should be replaced immediately.
All smoke alarms should be replaced at least every ten years or sooner if indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Working smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a home fire, but there is more you need to do to ensure your family is prepared to safely escape from a fire emergency. Once the smoke alarm sounds, you may have only a few
minutes to get out. Prepare a fire escape plan for your family before an emergency happens.

The following tips will help you develop a safe and effective family fire escape plan:
Everyone in your family, including children, should be involved in creating your fire escape plan.
Make sure everyone in your home knows what the fire alarm sounds like and what it means.
Walk through your home and note any possible exits, including windows. Draw a floor plan of your house and mark two ways to
escape from each room. Make sure that doors and windows leading to the outside can be opened easily by everyone in the
family.
Establish a meeting place a safe distance outside your home where your family will gather after escaping. The meeting place
should be something permanent and easy to identify, such as a tree, light pole, or mailbox, and should be a place where
firefighters will easily see you.
Teach everyone in the family to call 911 from a neighbor’s home or cellular phone once they have safely gotten outside.
Practice your escape plan by having at least two fire drills every year. One of your drills should occur during the night when your
family members are sleeping.