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Home » News & Events » 2019 » March » A smoke alarm on every floor

A smoke alarm on every floor

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Every home needs a smoke alarm on the ceiling of every floor.

This is the latest advice from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) which has seen a 40% reduction in the number of house fires in the 10 years 2009-2018, largely due to the fitting of smoke alarms.

Wk10 facebook smoke alarm v2 image post 2019

However, this can be further improved if homeowners and property owners ensured that every floor (or half level) had a working smoke alarm which is less than 10 years old.

Smoke alarms can give someone the few extra seconds that they need to escape in a fire, and the majority of homes in the country now have one fitted.

For people who live in a multi-storey home or a larger property a single smoke alarm is not enough. Last year, nearly half of all fires in the home, where the smoke alarm did not give a warning, were caused by the alarm not being close enough to detect the fire.Missing or flat batteries were another major cause.

Area Commander Mark Preece of HWFRS said: "One smoke alarm on every floor gives occupiers the best chance of getting out of their home before smoke becomes a fire. Fit them, test them, and replace them at least every 10 years.

"Smoke alarms keep us all safe in our homes. If you have a family friend or a relative, who may be vulnerable, elderly, or who has limited mobility, who would benefit from a free Home Fire Safety Check then give us a call on 0800 032 1155 quoting reference NEWS to see if they qualify for a check."

To keep your alarms in working order:

  • check that your smoke alarms are less than 10 years old
  • make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home
  • test your smoke alarms by pushing the button every week
  • fit smoke alarms on landings and hallways and near bedrooms.Also consider rooms which have electrical appliances – eg a heater or charger, or other fire risks
  • take a moment to check on those closest to you who may need help to ensure they're fully protected.

Ends

pr035.smokealarms_everylevel.CR.mar19.jaa (ACMP)