Installing, maintaining, and using your smoke alarms correctly is essential to keeping your family safe. The U.S. Fire Administration gives the following smoke alarm safety tips:
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- Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside bedrooms. If you keep your bedroom doors closed, place a smoke alarm in each bedroom.
- Check smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot reach the button easily, use a broom handle.
- Change the batteries in your alarms at least once a year – perhaps when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
- Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do – leave the building immediately by crawling low under the smoke – when they hear it sound.
- If cooking smoke sets off the alarm, do not disable it. Turn on the range fan, open a window, or wave a towel near the alarm.
- Do not remove the batteries to put in other appliances such as personal stereos or games.
- Smoke alarms wear out over time. Replace yours if it is 10 years old or more.
- Keep smoke alarms clean. Dust and debris can interfere with their operation. Vacuum over and around your smoke alarm regularly.
- Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm, which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened.
- Hard-wired smoke alarms with battery back-ups need to be tested monthly and batteries replaced yearly.
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