Safety Tips for Smoke Alarms and Family Emergency Planning

3/5/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of North Calhoun County 269-963-3033

Your ability to get out of your house during a fire depends on an advanced warning from smoke alarms and advanced planning.

We know talking about disasters, especially fires, can be scary for your kids. But, emergency planning is crucial for your families safety during a fire. Talks like these also help keep you and your family confident when it comes to an emergency situation and needing to get out of the home quickly. Talk to your kids about keeping low to the ground, feeling for heat from doors before trying to open them and a meeting area outside of the home that is safely away from the structure.

Smoke alarms are a key part of a home escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads quickly. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. Follow these safety tips for smoke alarms to ensure you and your families safety.

• Closed doors can slow the spread of fire, heat and smoke. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom and outside each separate sleeping area. Make sure to install alarms on every level of the home, including the basement. Smoke alarms should be interconnected, when one sounds they all sound.
• Large homes may require extra smoke alarms.
• Test all alarms at least once a month. You can do this by simply pressing the test button.
• Smoke alarms should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms, they should be 10 feet away from the stove.
• There are special smoke alarms for those hard of hearing or deaf. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.
• Replace all smoke alarms once they are 10 years old.

If a fire does happen in your home, remember SERVPRO of North Calhoun County is available 24-hours a day for your emergencies at 269-963-3033