Date: 13th January, 2017
Are you looking forward to an exciting 2017? Many people see January as an opportunity for a fresh start, and maintaining your safety should be top of the list. This month Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging everyone to make sure they have enough smoke alarms in the home and that they work. It only takes a few seconds and saves lives.
Smoke alarms can give someone the few extra seconds they need to escape in a fire. While the majority of homes across the country now have an alarm fitted, most people are not aware that the average alarm has a lifespan of just ten years and then needs replacing.
For people who live in a multi-storey home or a larger property a single smoke alarm is simply not enough. Last year, in nearly half of all fires in the home where the smoke alarm did not give a warning the reason was that the alarm was not close enough to detect the fire. Missing or flat batteries were another major cause.
DWFRS is asking people to make sure that their alarms are up to date, up to the job and are suggesting some key tips to manage the smoke alarms in your house
• Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home;
• Test your smoke alarms by pushing the button every month;
• Check that your smoke alarms are less than 10 years old;
• Fit smoke alarms on landings and hallways and near bedrooms. Also consider in rooms which have electrical appliances – e.g. a heater or charger – or other fire risks;
• Take a moment to check on your loved ones who may need help to ensure they’re fully protected.
Head of Fire Safety Seth Why said: “January is traditionally the month where more people are thinking of what they can do – big or small – to improve their lives, homes and wellbeing. Smoke alarms can offer vital protection for you and your loved ones, but most people simply fit and forget – they don’t know if it might be coming to the end of its lifespan or not working at all.
“For most of us, there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and secure. So if your alarm is getting past its best or your top floor is missing an alarm of its own, fit new ones and make sure you test them every month and protect your loved ones in 2017.”