Sioux Falls Tips for Smoke Alarms

2/28/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors saved this family!

Tragedy Strikes

It was a cold evening in January with the wind howling outside. A family of four snuggled on the couch to watch their favorite movie. After the movie the family performed their evening bedtime routine. Each child was tucked into bed and drifted off to sleep. After the evening news the Mother and Father couldn’t keep their eyes open and soon were fast asleep.

Loud and intimidating sounds filled the house. One by one the smoke alarms were warning the family of the present danger. The family raced to safety.

A small unattended candle in the bathroom caught the shower curtain on fire. Thanks to their dedicated monthly ritual of testing their smoke alarms the family escaped and were not harmed.

Tips for testing your smoke detector:

Check Location:

• Smoke detectors should be placed on the ceiling or high up on the wall. Most models look like small, white discs with a single LED light on the top or side.
• Do not place near doors, windows, or ventilation systems. This may affect air flow of how the smoke would travel to set off the alarm.

Determine Power:

• Check the power by pressing the test button

• The alarm should be sounding

• Walk away and ensure you can hear the alarm from other rooms

Check Smoke Sensor:

• Hold matches or a lighter in your hand and, while you’re below the smoke detector, hold the flame. Blow it out immediately and let the smoke rise to the detector. The smoke should trigger and set off the alarm. If it does not activate, your detector is not operating correctly.
• Be careful when handling matches to avoid burning your hands.
• After the test, you can clean the smoke with a handheld vacuum or wipe with a damp cloth.

 Fire alarms are essential safety devices that, when activated, will alert you of danger and quite possibly save your life by giving you more time to evacuate. Testing your alarms monthly ensures that the detectors and alarms are working properly and will operate as intended during a fire.