The Need for Smoke Detectors

Children and the Need for Smoke Detectors

• Children are curious, especially when it comes to fire. Keep candles, lighters and matches out of a child's reach. Sadly, 52 percent of fire-related fatalities of children are in the five-and-under age group. Teach children early that fire is not to be played with, and maintain smoke detectors on every level of your home.

The Need for Kitchen Fire Safety

• Practice safety in the kitchen; always use a timer. Food doesn't take long to burn under a broiler or oil to overheat and splatter over onto a burner. One of the main causes of fire-related deaths is unattended cooking equipment at night. Don't leave a cook stove unattended, and place a smoke detector close to the kitchen.

Seniors' Needs

• House fires claim the lives of more than 3,500 Americans each year; over 1,000 of them are senior citizens, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Many elderly or physically challenged people have a difficult time moving quickly. Medications may cause them to sleep soundly, and some are hard of hearing. For these reasons, the need for a simple, close escape route and well-placed smoke detectors is paramount. A special needs person, or anyone who sleeps with a closed bedroom door or is hard of hearing, should have smoke detectors both outside and inside of the bedroom for best measures.

The Need for Smoke Detector Maintenance

• You've purchased and installed a smoke detector, but that's not all you need to do. A smoke detector needs simple, regular maintenance. The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council offers this helpful reminder tip: "Change your clock, change your battery." Instead of waiting for your smoke detector's battery to die, simply replace it with a fresh one twice a year when you put your clocks ahead or back one hour for daylight savings time. But even a hard-wired smoke detector needs a regular checkup. Test a smoke detector monthly, whether battery operated or electric, suggests the USFA. Gently vacuum the inside of a battery-operated smoke detector or the outside vents of a hard-wired devise to clean it with the vacuum's soft bristled brush; push the test button after you're finished. Replace smoke detectors every 10 years. Keep and maintain smoke detectors in your home, and practice fire safety to protect your home and its most valuable contents -- yourself and your loved ones.