Fire Safety
It's obvious that infants depend completely on you or another older family member to get them out of the house if there is a fire. Having working smoke alarms installed properly throughout the house can help you create an early warning system in case of such an emergency. A fire escape plan will help you handle an emergency situation as calmly and efficiently as possible, and allow everyone in your family to make it to safety. As you install smoke detectors in your house, consider going the extra step and installing carbon monoxide detectors as well. Otherwise you may not know this harmful gas is in your house until it's too late.
Installing Smoke Alarms
Every floor or level of your house should have a working smoke alarm. They are especially important inside or just outside each and every bedroom. To prevent false or nuisance alarms, don't install a smoke alarm in the kitchen or bathrooms. The manufacturer's instructions and your local building and safety codes can also help you find the best places in your home for a smoke alarm.
What's the best way to position a smoke alarm?
Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or high up on a wall, about 6 to 12 inches from the ceiling. Don't install them near outside windows or doors or near an air duct.
To make sure that your smoke alarm is in good working condition, change the batteries at least once a year and test the alarm each month. Also, be sure to replace any smoke alarms that could be more than ten years old.
Fire Escape Plan
No matter how safe your home is and how many smoke alarms you have, if you don't have a plan for everyone to get out of the house, your family may still not be safe in case of a fire. A well-planned and regularly practiced fire escape plan can help to make sure that everyone gets out safely. As part of your fire escape plan, you should decide who will get each of your children out of the house, how they will get out, a backup route in case the first is blocked or unusable, and where you will meet outside. This way you won't have to worry about anyone rushing back into the house trying to reach a child who is already out safely.
Installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can quickly be poisonous. It is produced by cars and appliances that burn fuel such as charcoal, natural gas, coal, wood, oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum.
Because both are important and they are installed in the same areas, it makes sense to install a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector instead of having to install two separate alarms. You should be able to find a combination detector at your local hardware store.
Most people understand the need for having smoke alarms in their home, but carbon monoxide detectors are often overlooked, even though the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that every home have one. Carbon monoxide detectors are especially important if you have a garage attached to your home or if you have any fuel burning, nonelectric appliances in your home. These can include:
Furnaces
Fireplaces
Stoves
Water heaters
Space heaters
In addition to having these types of appliances professionally inspected each year and providing them with adequate ventilation, you should have carbon monoxide alarms to help alert you to any leaks before they can poison your family. Like smoke alarms, they should be installed near your bedrooms and on every floor of your house.
