Children & Smoke Alarms

Smoke Alarms

• Ionization and photoelectric detectors are the two types of smoke alarms available. With ionization detectors, smoke neutralizes the ions of an electric current generated by the battery and sets off the alarm. Photoelectric detectors respond when smoke blocks or scatters the path of a beam of light. Both are effective, although ionization detectors have the added safety benefit of alerting the homeowner when the battery is running low.

Location

• Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of your home and should never be deactivated. The U.S. Fire Administration suggests placing them both inside and outside of all sleeping areas. Statistics point to a 50-percent reduction in fire fatalities since the introduction of smoke alarms into the home, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Fire Drills

• Many children are frightened by the sound of smoke alarms. Practicing fire drills on a regular basis can decrease this anxiety and allow children to respond calmly. Teach them that the smoke alarm gives an early warning so we can get out of the house safely. Begin practice by pretending the alarm has gone off, and have them leave the house quickly and calmly. Next, set the alarm off on purpose and practice leaving the house again. During fire drills, practice leaving the house from different rooms so children get used to doing so.

Fire Escape Plan

• Create a fire escape plan with options in case a path is blocked by fire. The basic plan is to leave the house out the front door from whichever room you are in at the time the alarm goes off. Alternate routes may include using a back door, garage door or lower-level window. If the house is more than one story, have an easily accessible escape ladder. Make sure children know to touch door knobs before opening them to see if they are hot. If they are, fire is on the other side. Set a designated place for all family members to meet, such as across the street on a neighbor's driveway.

Deep Sleepers

• Some children are such deep sleepers that they are not awakened by the sound of a smoke alarm. You may not know if your child will wake up or sleep through a smoke alarm until it actually happens, so you should plan ahead and go into your child's room to get them in the event of an actual fire.

Home Alone

• Be sure to explain to children what to do if they are home alone when a smoke alarm goes off. Tell them to immediately put into effect the fire escape plan the family practiced together. Make sure they know to touch all door knobs before opening doors to see if they are hot. Have them run across the street to a neighbor's house to dial 9-1-1.