New report reinforces lifesaving benefits of smoke alarms

FALLBROOK – A new report from the National Fire Protection Association confirmed the importance of having working smoke alarms in homes. According to the NFPA report, almost three out of five home fire deaths happened in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

“We can’t underscore enough how critical it is to have properly installed and operating smoke alarms. The early warning from a smoke alarm provides precious time to get out and can be the difference between life and death,” Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of outreach and advocacy, said. “Modern construction and furnishings in homes burn faster and hotter, making seconds count.”

Residents could have as little as two minutes to escape at burning house, Carli said. The report said that the risk of dying in reported home structure fires is 54 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked.

NFPA provided several smoke alarm safety tips.

First, a closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home.

Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.

Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology including multi-sensing, which could include smoke and carbon monoxide combined.

Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet or 3 meters from the stove.

People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.

Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.

For more information about the proper installation of smoke alarms and other safety tips, visit http://www.nfpa.org/smokealarms.

Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy, and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit http://www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at http://www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

Submitted by National Fire Protection Association.