Smoke alarms save lives Published April 16, 2008 By Civil Engineer Squadron fire department 325th Fighter Wing TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- In 2004, the National Fire Protection Association reported that 96 percent of homes had at least one smoke alarm installed; however, 25 percent of those devices did not function. The biggest reason alarms failed was dead or missing batteries The NFPA also reports nearly half of deaths from home fires occur in homes without smoke alarms installed. Homes with non-working smoke alarms outnumber homes without smoke detectors. You can take a big step toward ensuring your family's safety from fire by merely testing your smoke alarms regularly and changing the batteries at least twice a year. A great time to do this is in the spring or fall when you change the time on your clocks Smoke alarms will usually chirp intermittently when batteries are running low. Some tips to keep your smoke detector working properly: · Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions · Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm twice a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low · Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms don't work if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected · Don't disable smoke alarms, even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam will not cause the alarm to sound · Vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms regularly as well as following the manufacturer's maintenance instructions, will help keep them working properly · Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one · If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire by 82 percent The placement of smoke detectors is also very important. Sleeping areas need the most protection. One detector in a short hallway outside the bedroom area is usually adequate. For maximum protection, install a detector in each bedroom. Be sure to keep the detector away from fireplaces and wood stoves to avoid false alarms. Place smoke detectors at the top of each stairwell and at the end of each long hallway because smoke rises easily through stairwells. Proper mounting of a smoke detector is also important. You can mount many detectors by yourself, but those connected to your household wiring should be installed by a professional electrician. If you install your own smoke detectors, be sure and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. To test your smoke detector: · Depress the test button located on the alarm · Listen for the beep or chirp · Replace batteries in weak sounding alarms · Avoid testing the alarm with smoke from cigarettes or candles. Repeated use of smoke to test alarms can cause them to fail when a real fire occurs