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A smoke alarm is your early warning system, which will detect
and alert you to a fire. If there is a fire in your home, a smoke
alarm will give you valuable time to escape. The noise of your smoke
alarm should alert you even when you are asleep. The majority of
deaths in house fires happen between 10pm and 8am.
• You can buy a smoke alarm from most DIY, electrical or hardware
stores and most supermarkets.
• A smoke alarm can cost as little as £3.00.
• When fitting smoke alarms follow the manufacturers instructions.
• The best place to put a smoke alarm is on the ceiling, as
near to the centre of the room as possible.
• The smoke alarm should be placed at least 30 centimetres
way from any light or wall.
• Don’t fit smoke alarms in the kitchen or bathroom where
they can be accidentally triggered.
• The more smoke alarms you have fitted in your house the better
protected you will be.
• Make sure you have at least one smoke alarm per level.
• The hallway and the landing are ideal locations.
• Make sure you look after your smoke alarm
• Test your alarm once a week.
• Change the battery once a year (unless it is a 10-year alarm)
• Replace your smoke alarm unit every 10 years.
In the event of a fire:
Get everyone together and get out. If there is a lot of smoke, crawl
along
the floor where the air is cleaner. Don’t go back in your house,
not even
to collect valuables or pets. Dial 999 and ask for the Fire & Rescue Service.
Call
from a mobile phone, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box.
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