X-Message-Number: 27433 From: Kennita Watson <> Subject: Advice from Andrew re smoke/CO detectors Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 19:21:36 -0800 You know this already, right? That's OK, read it again (and do it this time! :-) ). Cheers, Kennita Andrew wrote: smoke alarms save lives The National Fire Protection Association has found that your odds of dying in a fire DOUBLE if you do not have a working smoke alarm in the place where you sleep. drewkitty's recommendations: * TWO SMOKE DETECTORS IS THE BARE MINIMUM IN ANY HOME OR RV. If you are not going to follow the NFPA standard of one per bedroom plus one per level of your home, install two (2) smoke alarms, one in the hall outside your bedroom and one in your bedroom. * You should use both an ionization alarm and a photoelectric alarm. A combination unit can be purchased for about $20. Buy two anyway. Carbon monoxide alarms do not detect smoke but are vital if you cook or heat (incl. water heater) with natural gas/propane/wood or you live in an RV. * Battery failures are the most common cause of smoke alarm failure. Smoke alarm failure is the most common cause of injury due to fire. Your life depends on that battery. Two alarms with two batteries improves your odds dramatically. o If you use alkaline 9v batteries, replace them every year in the Fall when you change from daylight savings time to standard time. o Better yet, spend the extra few dollars and buy "long- life" lithium 9v batteries for your smoke detectors and replace every three years. o Test your smoke detector every week by pushing the button. If your detector starts chirping or does not work when tested, replace the battery. o In new or retrofit construction, install AC/DC detectors with "daisy chain" features so that all will alarm if one alarms, AC power is supplied, yet the detectors will work during power failures and in disasters (a common cause of home fires after a disaster is emergency cooking or heating.) Have one old-style DC detector near sleeping areas just in case. * There are more homes have non-working smoke detectors (and therefore no protection) than there are homes with no smoke detectors. Non-working detectors cannot save your life. o When you install a smoke detector, read carefully all manufacturer directions regarding installation, placement, testing and proper use -- before you start the installation. o Check dates of manufacture and dispose of all smoke detectors presently installed that are more than ten years old. o With a permanent marker, write the year purchased on the outside of your detector and the words "THROW ME AWAY IN [X]" where X equals ten years from now. * If you or a household resident are hearing-impaired, purchase an alarm with louder, lower-pitched alarm signals and/or strobe lights, such as those from Loudenlow or Silent Call. Also use great caution when traveling as most hotel rooms are not equipped with life safety systems that will alert hearing-impaired guests. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=27433