Keep Your Family Safe and Make Sure Your Alarm Works
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Nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no
working smoke alarms.
To help reduce your chances of becoming a victim, CAL FIRE is reminding
all Californians to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes. A
little attention to these devices goes a long
way to increasing your chance of surviving a devastating fire.
“When a fire strikes, a working smoke alarm gives you that valuable
warning that could save your life,” advises State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover,
CAL FIRE.
Smoke alarm safety tips:
•Place properly
installed and maintained smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas
and on every level of your home.
•Interconnected
smoke alarms are best, because if one sounds, they all sound.
•Get smoke
alarms that can sound fast to all types of fires. CAL FIRE recommends that
every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with ionization and photoelectric
smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and
photoelectric smoke
sensors.
•Inspect, test
and clean smoke alarms and change alkaline batteries at least once every year,
or when the alarm signals (“chirps”) the end of the battery life. You can usea
date you already know, like your birthday or when you change your clocks as a
reminder.
•Follow
manufacturer’s instructions if you have a 10-year smoke alarm which uses a long-life
lithium battery.
•Never paint
over a smoke alarm.
•Replace your
smoke alarm at least every ten years.
•Practice exit drills
so everyone understands what to do when they hear a smoke alram.