Why Are Smoke Alarms and COs Alarms a Must-Have for Your Home or Office

Fire safety is something that is often overlooked until it is too late. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that around 2,620 die in house fires yearly, and out of those, about half of all deaths occur during the overnight hours of 10 pm to 7 am.

Heat, flames, and smoke are just one danger of fires. The other is toxic gases and smoke that can leave you unconscious in just a few breaths. If your fire alarm does not alert you immediately to the presence of a fire, you might die from inhaling fumes, not the actual fire flames.

That’s why Movestar, a company owned and run by off-duty firefighters, wants to talk to you about fire safety. We have plenty of experience when it comes to fire safety, and we want to share our knowledge with you in the hopes that you can avoid a tragedy. This blog post will discuss some essential tips for keeping your home or office safe from fires.

The Latest Fire Safety Statistics

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 346,800 home fires yearly. These fires caused 2,620 civilian deaths, 11,070 civilian injuries, and $7.3 billion in direct property damage.

Three out of five fire-related home deaths occurred in homes without a smoke alarm or where the smoke alarms failed to work. The report further states that the risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by 55% in homes with functional smoke alarms.

Tips for Keeping Your Home or Office Safe from Fires

To help you keep from becoming a statistic, here are some crucial steps you can take to protect your family and property from the devastation of fire:

1. Install smoke alarms throughout your home and office, including inside bedrooms, outside each separate sleeping area, and outside sleeping areas like the kitchen, garage, and basement. The detector should be at least five feet above the floor.
2. Check your smoke and CO2 detectors monthly to ensure that they function correctly.
3. Batteries die, also check them monthly, and replace them as needed. Daylight savings time is an excellent time to remember to replace them.
4. Do not leave candles or other open flames unattended.
5. Avoid using extension cords where possible, and if you must use them, do not overload the circuit.
6. Keep flammable materials like matches, lighters, and aerosol cans away from heat sources.
7. Keep your stovetop and oven clean of grease and other flammable materials.
8. Do not leave the house or go to bed without ensuring that all appliances are turned off.
9. Have a fire extinguisher readily available in case of an emergency, and know how to use it.
10. Review the sound of alarms with children
11. Draw up a fire escape plan and practice it with your family or office mates so that everyone knows what to do in case of a fire.
12. Replace any detector that is 10+ years old

Importance of Ensuring Your Smoke Detectors Are Working Properly

While smoke alarms are one crucial instrument, one that is often overlooked is CO2 detectors. CO2 is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you within minutes. If there is carbon monoxide in your home, the detector will set off the alarm, alerting you to the danger so that you can evacuate immediately. On the other hand, the fire alarm will go off when it detects smoke. That’ll give you time to put out the fire or evacuate the premises–do not re-enter the building until the authorities give you the go-ahead.

Printable Smoke Alarm Reminder From The NFPA

Stay Safe!

We hope that these tips will help you keep your home or office safe from fires. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry! If you have any questions about fire safety, or if you’d like a fire safety consultation for your home or office, please get in touch with us at Movestar. We’re always happy to help!