Mount Prospect – Daylight Savings Time is soon ending, and the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) urges everybody in Illinois to take this opportunity to test their smoke alarms to ensure they are properly protected against fire.
The nation received a tragic reminder of how important working smoke alarms are just this past month, when a 3-year-old boy was tragically killed in Spokane, Washington. He died, clutching his teddy bear, alongside his puppy, unable to escape from his burning home. Though the home had smoke alarms, they did not have working batteries. Because of this lack of early warning, he was unable to escape and he perished in the house fire.
“Installing and maintaining smoke alarms is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your home against fire,” said Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of the IFSA. “The IFSA encourages the public to make use of 10-year alarms, which cannot be easily switched off. Such alarms are instrumental in preventing the sort of tragedy that just happened in Spokane. Please take advantage of this weekend to make certain you are protected against fire.”
According to research conducted by the National Fire Protection Association, three of every five home fire deaths occurs in a home without a smoke alarm or working smoke alarms, and the vast majority of these deaths are due to dead or missing batteries. People frequently do not remember to rotate the batteries in their smoke alarms, or disconnect the alarms to silence annoying chirps. The result is a home that is defenseless against fire.
The IFSA strongly urges people to invest in 10-year smoke alarms. Such units come equipped with sealed-in, non-removeable batteries capable of powering the device for at least 10 years. These alarms require much less maintenance than alarms with removeable batteries, and are virtually impossible to disable. They stand a better chance at preventing the sort of tragedy that just happened in Spokane.
The IFSA reminds residents that smoke alarms should be installed inside and outside of each bedroom, sleeping area, and on every level of a home, and they should be tested monthly. If a smoke alarm chirps, the battery should immediately be replaced. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years with new units.
Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00 a.m.
IFSA smoke & CO alarm tips:
Test alarms at least once a month by using the test button.
Check the batteries every six months, and if applicable, change them as well: If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you. Do NOT disable the unit.
When possible, outfit your home with alarms equipped with sealed-in, 10-year lithium batteries that last the lifetime of the devices – to provide a decade of 24/7 fire safety protection without the risk of dead or missing batteries.
Vacuum or blow out any dust that might accumulate in the unit.
NEVER borrow a battery from an alarm to use somewhere else.
NEVER paint a smoke or CO alarm.
Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement, in every bedroom and near every sleeping area.
Smoke alarm should not be installed near a window because drafts could interfere with their operation.
Smoke alarms should be completely replaced every ten years.
Families should also develop and practice a home fire escape plan.
To read more about smoke alarms, fire safety and burn prevention, please visit IFSA’s website at www.IFSA.org and the NFPA at www.NFPA.org.
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE: Since 1982, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA), a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, has promoted fire safety, burn prevention, and public education across the state of Illinois. The IFSA also hosts burn survivor support programs including the Young Adult Summit, Family Day, and Camp “I Am Me,” a unique week-long camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries. Additional information on the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance can be found at www.IFSA.org.