Smoke Alarm Safety Tips for Southeastern Wisconsin

Finally! This is the weekend we get to “SPRING” ahead. The days get longer and we can finally start to feel like we are leaving winter behind. However the other event that we need to focus on this weekend is our smoke alarms. Smoke alarm safety is so important to us that we wanted to share some safety tips with you. This weekend when you change your clocks, show some love to smoke alarms by giving them a maintenance check up as well.

We can’t stress this enough, smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. A working smoke alarm will cut your chances of dying by 50%.

Following the tips below will keep your smoke alarms working in tip top shape:

• Test the alarm monthly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Replace the batteries once a year, OR when you hear the first chirps sounding from the alarm.
• Never borrow batteries from toys or other devices to put in the alarm.
• Likewise, never “borrow” the battery from the smoke alarm, to be used in another device, even temporarily. You have the smoke alarm to warn you of a fire, but if you take away the battery, it can’t do its job.
• Never deactivate the smoke alarm while cooking. If it is sounding while you are cooking, you may need to rethink the position of the alarm and move it accordingly. Most fires start in the kitchen, so this is an area that you have to keep protected.
• When you are testing the alarm monthly, also dust the alarm. Keeping dust and debris out of the smoke alarms will keep them working properly.
• Never paint the smoke alarm.
• Have enough of them installed in your home. Most of us do not have enough smoke alarms in our homes. (Hmmm….sounds like another idea for a blog post!)
• Use interconnected alarms. When one sounds, they ALL sound!
• 10 years is the typical lifespan of most smoke alarms. If you are not sure how old your alarm is, REPLACE IT!
• Practice fire drills regularly with your family so that everyone knows what to do and where to go if the alarm sounds.
• Schedule one fire drill at night while the family is asleep. It is easy to remember what to do and where to go while we are awake and alert. However in the middle of night, when woken from a deep sleep, feeling groggy, is quite another matter; especially when you have only seconds to respond. Studies have also shown that many children do not awaken to the sound of a smoke alarm going off. A night time fire drill will show you what areas you need to improve upon so that if there is a fire at night, EVERYONE makes it out safely.

From beginning to end, we can handle 100% of the restoration process so you don’t have to. This can include content pack-outs, cleaning & storage of personal property, structural drying & mitigation, mold remediation, lead & asbestos abatement, and full re-construction services. We are licensed, bonded, and fully insured. We abide by all state and federal laws, and are certified as a “Lead Safe Renovator” with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and accredited with the IICRC.

For more information on Emergency Fire & Water Restoration, or the services we provide, give us a call at 414-810-3522, or visit our website at www.emergencyrest.com