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Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms
that are properly installed and maintained
play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and
injuries. If there is a fire in your home,
smoke spreads fast and you need smoke
alarms to give you time to get out.
Here's what you need to know!
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.
Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one
sounds, they all sound.
Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
Test your smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the
test button to be sure the alarm is working.
Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically
advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet
mitigate false alarms.
When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.
Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.
More about installation and maintenance of home smoke
alarms.
Change your clocks, change your batteries
This year, on March 14, states throughout the U.S. will be
turning their clocks forward. Many people will use this
opportunity to change their home’s smoke alarm batteries as
well.
Featured Content
Smoke alarms safety tip sheet
Download this free tip sheet on the use and maintenance of
smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms give you early warning
so you can get outside quickly.
Download our tip sheet on smoke alarms.
Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires
This report focuses chiefly on smoke alarm presence and
performance in home fires reported to local fire departments in
the United States.
Download this free NFPA report.
Dan Doofus Realizes Smoke Alarms Are an Alarming Tre…
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NFPA's Dan Doofus reminds you to have enough smoke
alarms in your home, test them monthly, and replace them
every 10 years.
See more NFPA videos about smoke alarms.
Facts and figures about smoke alarms
In 2014-2018, smoke alarms sounded in more than half
(54%) of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments.
Almost three of every five home fire deaths resulted from
fires in homes with no smoke alarms (41%) or no working
smoke alarms (16%).
The death rate per 1,000 reported home fires was more
than twice as high in homes that did not have any working
smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working
smoke alarms (13.0 deaths vs. 5.8 deaths per 1,000 fires).
In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not
operate, two of every five (41%) of the smoke alarms had
missing or disconnected batteries.
Dead batteries caused one-quarter (26%) of the smoke
alarm failures.
Source: NFPA's "Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires" report
Featured
Smoke Alarms are Important
Brochures
NFPA's Smoke Alarms are Important Brochure and its online
music video remind kids to jump to their feet when the smoke
alarm sounds!
More Info
Smoke alarms in the news
How Do I Maintain My Smoke Detector?
So, your building has a smoke detector in it and you are
wondering what is required as far as inspection,…
Research Foundation to Host FREE Webinar: “Review of
Audible Alarm Signal Waking Effectiveness” - Wednesday,
February 5, 12:30-2pm EST
At-risk populations such as the elderly, school-age
children, those who are hard of hearing or alcohol-impaired
do not fully…
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In This Section
Safety messages about smoke alarms What you
need to know about smoke alarms.
Changing clocks and batteries
For fire and life safety educators Free educational
resources about smoke alarms for teachers and families
Smoke alarm videos NFPA videos to help you learn
about the importance of installing and maintaining smoke
alarms.
Installing and maintaining smoke alarms Where to
place your smoke alarms and how to keep them working.
Ionization vs photoelectric NFPA recommends using
both technologies in the home.
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