~ Beth Anne Nesselt, Manager, Community Risk Reduction Section
Don’t forget to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms this weekend
It's that time of year again when we "Spring Forward" and change clocks (unless your clocks do it automatically) and check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms! Here are our Top Eight Tips to remember when it comes to smoke alarms and fire safety this weekend:
1. It is indisputable that smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms are the best and least expensive way to provide an early warning system to alert you and your family to a potential fire emergency. Smoke alarms are designed to detect a fire in its early stages and alert people, so they have time to safely escape.
2. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
3. For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected. What does that mean? When one sounds they all sound alerting you to an emergency early on and giving you critical time to escape. New construction requirements have included hard- wired smoke alarms with battery back-ups since the mid-70's.
4. Nothing lasts forever - including smoke alarms. Smoke alarms become less reliable with time, primarily due to aging of their electronic components making them more susceptible to nuisance false alarms. Replace entire smoke alarm units every 10 years or sooner if they don't respond properly when tested. Why? The sensor wears out and may not activate in an emergency putting your family at risk. Always read the manufacturer’s recommendations as some models recommend replacement every 5-7 years.
5. DIY projects? Never (ever) paint over a smoke alarm. It will affect the operation of the smoke alarm, potentially disabling it.
6. Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarms once a month by pressing the test button.
7. Clean your smoke alarms monthly when you test them. Smoke alarms get clogged with dust build-up which may affect performance.
8. If your smoke alarm “chirps” it may be time to change the back-up battery in your hard-wired alarm. Since 2018, Maryland law has required all battery-only smoke alarms (typically found in homes built before 1975 that have never pulled a building permit) to have a sealed,10-year long-life battery in the unit. Any "chirping" in these units is likely signaling that you need to replace the entire smoke alarm with a new one.
Today's home safety and security technology has evolved beyond smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Many families rely on household devices connected to the internet or smartphones to enhance safety and security. New technology can even notify you when the alarm is activated or if the battery is low. Take time this weekend to ensure your family has a fire safety plan and you have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with the newest technology. And practice it with a Home Fire Drill to ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency. It could just save your life.
