• 2 out of 3 fire deaths are in homes with nonfunctioning smoke alarms.
• In recent years, 70% of home fire deaths resulted from home fires with inoperable or no smoke alarms.
• 38% of total fire injuries occurred in homes with no smoke alarms.
• In reported home fires with inoperable alarms, 50% had missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
• A home fire impacts the life of an American family every 85 seconds.
• On average, you and your family have less than 2 minutes from the time the first smoke alarm sounds to escape.
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms provide an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape – but only if they work!
• Most if not all of the above is preventable with properly located and working smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms.

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• Known as the invisible killer, CO is colorless & odorless.
• CO effects adults and children differently, if your detector goes off check on your children and/or the elderly.
• There are numerous potential CO sources, not just your stove or oven.
• CO sources include: kitchen range or vent, water heater pipes, furnace, dryer, heaters, attached garage, neighboring apartments.
• Standard smoke alarms don’t detect carbon monoxide.
• 35 million people are still at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Are you one of them?

• Be sure to have the right type of alarm. Alarms must be approved by Underwriters Laboratories (look for a UL mark) and have an audible end-of-life warning. All new and replacement smoke alarms should have a sealed 10-year battery that is non-replaceable and non-removable.
• Have both a smoke alarm and a CO alarm (or a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm). One type of alarm is not a substitute for the other.
• If your alarm still uses removable batteries, be sure to change them twice a year. A great reminder is changing batteries on days clocks are changed for daylight saving time. Replace these alarms with ones that contain sealed 10-year batteries as soon as possible.

ALARM INSTALLATION

• Install alarms where you sleep and on every level of your home, including basements.
• Locate alarms on the ceiling, preferably near the center of the room, but not less than four inches from a wall. If the alarm must be installed on a wall, it should be placed between four and 12 inches from the ceiling.
• Consider installing interconnected alarms so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound.
• Special alarms should be installed for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. Strobe lights and bed shakers are available.
• The following locations can either create a false alarm or avoid your detector from properly identifying the CO levels in your home:

In close proximity to any fuel-burning appliance.

In excessively humid areas such as your bathroom.

In direct sunlight.

Near any sources of blowing air such as a fan, vent or open window.

ALARM MAINTENANCE

• Test your alarms regularly by pressing the test button.
• Replace alarms every 10 years or when the alarm signals that it has reached the end of life and needs to be replaced.
• Keep alarms clean by regularly dusting or vacuuming.

WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDS

• If a CO alarm sounds, you and your family should get out immediately and call 911.
• If a smoke alarm sounds, be sure to execute your escape plan.
• If an alarm is set off accidentally, quiet the alarm by pushing the hush or reset button. Open windows and turn on vent fans to clear the air.
• Accidental alarms often are triggered by bathroom steam or cooking vapors. Consider relocating alarms that often sound by accident.