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Firefighter Bernie Arana and Captain John Harber show Santa Paula-resident Beva Alvarez how to check to see if a smoke alarm is working properly. |
Only Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives
April 08, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. The California Residential Building Code requires smoke alarms in all residences. Carbon monoxide detectors are also required if a residence has a gas-fed appliance, such as a furnace, stove, or water heater.
Today, smoke alarms are such a common feature in homes that people many times forget to maintain them. Santa Paula Fire Department Captain John Harber reminds us “Only working smoke detectors save lives.” Smoke alarm batteries should be changed biannually. Captain Harber continues, “It could be a life-saving habit to remember to change your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries during daylight-savings time. Just remember the phrase: Change your clock, change your batteries.”
If the smoke alarm is making an intermittent chirping noise, that indicates a low battery, and you should change it immediately. Also it is important to know what to do in the event you are awakened by a sounding smoke detector. Captain Harber recommends that every household develops and practices an emergency exit drill with the entire family. Some of the items that are important to have on your plan for it to be successful include:
* Have a working smoke alarm.
* Know two ways out of every room.
* Crawl low in smoke.
* Choose an outside meeting spot away from the house.
* Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street.
* Once outside, call 911 from a neighbor’s house or cellphone.
* Make sure windows open easily.
* If your home has security bars, know how to open them from the inside.
* Remember to Get-out and Stay-out!
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, almost half (47%) had missing or disconnected batteries. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected smoke alarms. Properly locating the smoke detectors will limit the nuisance alarms.
Properly working smoke alarms give an early warning so everyone can get outside. According to Acting Assistant Chief Dustin Lazenby, “Only one of the past four residential fires in Santa Paula had working smoke alarms; the other three fires had nonfunctioning smoke alarms, and in one case the smoke alarms were simply removed, leaving the plastic ceiling mounts.”
Fire Chief Rick Araiza recommends following the NFPA guidelines for installing smoke alarms. “Smoke alarms should be installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.” The chief continues “Permanently installed smoke alarms should be connected so when one sounds, all of the smoke alarms sound throughout the home.”
NFPA Safety Tips for Smoke Alarms:
* Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in the basement.
* Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
* It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
* Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
* There are two kinds of alarms: Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires; Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use both types of alarms in the home.
* A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet 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.
If you have any questions regarding your smoke alarms, please contact the Santa Paula Fire Department at 805-525-4478 x550 or check the NFPA website at: http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/fire-and-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms
