Warwickshire Direct
Smoke alarms
Push the button, not your luck!
Warwickshire's Chief Fire Officer, Graeme Smith, urges residents to ensure they have a smoke alarm fitted and in good working order to prevent fire deaths and injuries. You’re twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven’t got a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms are the single piece of equipment most likely to save you from a fire by giving you precious time to escape.
Excuses kill, fit a smoke alarm now
- Don’t rely on your dog to wake you up
- A fire will not wake a light sleeper
They’re cheap, as little as £5 each, easy to get hold of and easy to fit. There’s no excuse for not having one. We recommend that you fit a smoke alarm with a 10 year battery life, available for approximately £15.
Many people who have smoke alarms are in danger too. The alarm could be in the wrong place, there may not be enough smoke alarms for the size of their home, they may not have checked their alarm recently or the batteries could be missing.
How many smoke alarms do I need?
If you choose to fit only one smoke alarm, put it where you will be able to hear it throughout your home – particularly when you are asleep.
- If you live on one level, fit the smoke alarm in the hallway between the living and sleeping areas
- If your home has more than one level, fit the smoke alarm at the top of the stairs which leads to the bedrooms
The more alarms you have around your home the safer you will be. For minimum protection do the following:
- If you live on one level, fit the smoke alarm in the hallway between the living and sleeping areas.
- If your home has more than one level, fit one alarm at the bottom of the staircase and further alarms on each stair landing.
Where is the best place to put a smoke alarm?
The best place is on the ceiling as near as possible to the centre of the room, hallway or landing. It should be at least 12 inches (30 centimetres) away from any wall or light.
If it is difficult for you to fit a smoke alarm, ask a neighbour or family member to install it for you.
A smoke alarm can only protect you if it is installed and working
But if you have difficulty hearing, seeing or sleep deeply, you may need to take special steps to make sure the alarms work for you. Special alarms are now available with a vibrating pad and/or flashing lights that will wake you up in bed.
- Once a week – Check the battery by pressing the button
- Once a year – Change your battery or fit a battery with a 10 year life
- Once a year – Vacuum and wipe the smoke alarm casing to ensure dust isn’t blocking the sensor chamber. (For mains alarms, switch off first)
Many people either forget to check their smoke alarms or find it difficult to climb up and check them – so the battery runs out. Dozens of people die each year because their alarm didn’t work. Whatever happens – never remove the battery to use it for other purposes.
We know smoke alarms save lives. They can give you and your family the necessary warning to get out in the early stages of a fire. Once fitted, they do require testing and some annual maintenance. The one sombre message I would leave you with is dead batteries can be replaced, dead families cannot.
You can save yourself the worry by getting a mains powered alarm fitted (with a battery back up in case of power cuts).
Stay safe - maintain your smoke alarm and make an escape plan.
