Smoke Alarms & You - MySmokeAlarm

Home » Smoke Alarms & You

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT SMOKE ALARMS ANYWAY?

In three easy steps, we’ll share the importance of working smoke alarms – for you, your family, and your pets.

Step #1

Make a family escape plan

This is a diagram of your home, showing two ways out of every major room and sleeping area. It should also show a “safety meeting” place where the family can meet in the event of an evacuation.

Step #2

Install Smoke Alarms and CO Detectors

It’s easy, and it’s the law! Where should you put them?

Smoke alarms need to be put in specific places, including:
In every room used for sleeping purposes
In the corridor or area giving access to each sleeping area
On every level of the home including basements

CO or carbon monoxide alarms will alert you if invisible and potentially lethal gas is in your home. This could occur if the heater isn’t working right, or after an earthquake. Purchase an inexpensive CO alarm and install per manufacturer’s instruction on the wall in the hall outside your sleeping areas

Step #3

Practice Your Plan

We all know the value of teamwork – your family is your team. And your team can join ours – creating a FireSmart:LA community. But, only if you follow the three steps listed here!

REMEMBER – FIRE BURNS, SMOKE KILLS – BE FIRESMART!

TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARMS

Maintain your smoke alarms according to manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t use tape or other non-approved components to attach smoke alarms.
Test your smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
Never paint over smoke alarms.
Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
Make sure everyone in your home understands that the “chirp” they may hear means that older smoke alarms need to have their battery replaced. Today, the best option when you hear a chirp is to replace the alarm with a new 10-year sealed alarm.
Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
When replacing a battery, follow manufacturer’s list of batteries on the back of the alarm or manufacturer’s instructions. Manufacturer’s instructions are specific to the batteries (brand and model) that must be used. The smoke alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.

BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD A SMOKE ALARM?

If you cannot afford to purchase working smoke alarms for your home. There are multiple ways to get the alarms you need. The American Red Cross offers a smoke alarm program called Sound the Alarm! Another way to get FREE smoke alarms INCLUDING installation is to fill out the form below and send it in. We’ll get right back to you and see what can be done to provide you with the smoke alarms that your home needs.***

*** Some geographical limitations apply. FREE smoke alarms are intended for at-risk homes where the residents are unable to purchase smoke alarms on their own. FREE smoke alarms are not available in multiple unit apartment buildings, as the responsibility for those units remains with the builder and operator.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT SMOKE ALARMS ANYWAY?

Step #1

Make a family escape plan

Step #2

Install Smoke Alarms and CO Detectors

Step #3

Practice Your Plan

TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARMS

BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD A SMOKE ALARM?

In 1915, people living in homes or apartments could expect that if their home caught fire, they’d have a one in ten chance of that fire killing them.

Learn More

Installation

Smoke Alarm Statistics

Smoke Alarm Research

Smoke Alarm History

Share what you've learned with a friend:

Call. Write. Visit

Learn

Company

Keep up with MySmokeAlarm

Stay up to date with MySmokeAlarm