Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms may seem insignificant compared to the large, complex systems in your home, however they may be the most important devices in your home when it comes to your safety. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, while almost all American homes have at least one smoke alarm, no smoke alarms were present or none operated in one-third of the reported home fires from 2014 through 2018. Almost three-fifths of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

As fireplace season and heating season approaches, the number of house fires across the country goes up. Here are a few easy steps that you can take to protect your family and your home from fires:

• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, inside every sleeping room and every hallway, and in living rooms.
• Install smoke detectors high on the wall or on the ceiling since smoke rises.
• When possible, use interconnected smoke detectors. When one goes off, they all go off.
• Once-a-month vacuum your smoke detectors, and test the alarm by pressing the TEST button.
• Replace old batteries as soon as you hear the “low battery” alarm.
• If your smoke alarm is 10 years or older, or if it has faded to a yellow color, replace it! The sensor inside the smoke detector stops working after about 10 years.
• Develop and practice a Home Fire Escape Plan so that everyone in the house knows what to do in case of a fire.
• For more smoke alarm safety ideas, down the NFPA’s SMOKE ALARM SAFETY TIP pamphlet.

Taking action and being prepared BEFORE a fire strikes could be the difference between safely escaping a fire and disaster. Take a look at your smoke detectors TODAY!