The majority of fires occur when you least expect them - At night.

They also spread very rapidly, but the real killer is the smoke.

Basically, your chances of survival, if you don't have a Smoke Alarm to wake you up, are zero.

This is because smoke suffocates you, and it does it fast. In fact you are far more likely to die, before the flames reach you.

Fires happen to even the most careful of people, and buying a Smoke Alarm could make the difference between life and death, or at the very least a serious injury. The quicker that you call the Fire Service, the less damage will be done to your home, and your possessions, some of which are impossible to replace, like photographs and family mementos.

Having a smoke alarm in your home, should be a natural thing that people do, like having a lock on your front door. So if you don't have smoke alarms in your property already, fit them now - before it's too late.

Most Fire Brigades up and down the UK, will either give or even install free smoke alarms in your house. Please call your local fire station for details.

FACTS

On average 270 of the people killed in fires each year didn't have a Smoke Alarm.

Half of the deaths in house fires happen between 2000 and 0800.

A quarter of all people killed in fires each year didn't have a smoke alarm.

Over the last five years, more than 70 people have been killed each year, because the smoke alarm in their property didn't work - usually because the battery was missing or flat.

WHAT IS A SMOKE ALARM?

A Smoke Alarm is a warning device, that detects smoke at the very earliest stages of a fire.

If there is a fire somewhere in your home, it will sound a piercing alarm to warn you. This gives you plenty of time to escape.

Where can i buy a smoke alarm?

Smoke alarms are available from any D.I.Y. stores, electrical shops, supermarkets, and convenience or hardware stores. They are also available for purchase on the Internet. Also remember that most brigades in the UK will give them to you for free.

How much do they cost?

For a basic, battery operated smoke alarm, you are looking at around £3.99 upwards, however there are multi feature Smoke Alarm also available, that can cost upwards of £25.

Basically, the more that it costs, the more features it will have. Some have built in emergency lights, where others will have a 10 year battery, for those that are forgetful amongst you.

It is much safer to have a basic cheap smoke alarm, than to have no alarm at all. It will still warn you early if there is a fire in your home.

EXCUSES KILL - GET A SMOKE ALARM NOW!

Do NOT put a smoke alarm in the following places.

In the kitchen or bathroom - they can be accidentally triggered by cooking fumes or steam

Where it can't be heard - for example, when you are asleep

In a garage - Exhaust fumes could cause the alarm to actuate

On a shelf or wall - Smoke rises upwards towards the ceiling. Therefore the alarm will actuate quicker if it is placed on the ceiling. Giving you more time to escape.

HOW MANY SMOKE ALARMS WILL I NEED?

The more smoke alarms that you have round your house, the safer you will be. For the minimum amount of protection, you must do the following:

If you live on just one level, make sure that you fit the alarm in the hallway, between the living and sleeping areas.

If you live in a home that has more than one level. Then ideally, you should fit one Smoke Alarm at the bottom of the stairs, and further alarms on each subsequent stair landing.

TOP TIP

The best place to put a smoke alarm is on the ceiling, as near as possible to the centre of the room, hallway or landing. It should also be at least 12" (30cm) away from any wall or light.

Smoke Alarms and their features.

There are two main types of smoke alarms available today. They are Ionisation alarms and Radiation alarms.

Ionisation Alarms

These are the cheapest and most readily available on the market. They are extremely sensitive to what we call "Flaming Fires" such as chip pan fires. They are good at catching this kind of fire early before the smoke gets too thick.

OPTICAL ALARMS

These alarms are far more expensive. They are more effective at catching "slow burning" fires, such as foam filled furniture that smoulder, or overheated electrical wiring. Optical alarms are less likely to go off accidentally, and are best for ground floor hallways and homes on one level.

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR SMOKE ALARMS

Once per week, test you Smoke Alarm, by pressing the test button and holding it in until the audible alarm sounds.

Change the battery in your smoke alarm every year, unless it is an alarm that contains a 10 year battery .

Twice per year, open the case of the alarm and gently vacuum inside using the soft brush attachment, to remove dust from the sensor chamber. If your alarm doesn't open, then simply hoover over the cut out slots on the alarm casing. Never paint a smoke alarm!

As well as doing normal battery checks, it is best to replace smoke alarms with completely new units every 10 years.

YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON SMOKE ALARMS THAT WORK!

I hope you have enjoyed this article on Smoke Alarms.

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