Until I saw a post in a local mom’s group from a local FDNY fireman, I never knew that there was a RIGHT KIND of smoke detector. Heck, I didn’t even know that there was more than one kind! With life as busy as it is and with constant ‘to do’ lists running through our heads, I thought it would be wise to throw a reminder in there to make sure that you have working fire precaution measures in your home. It’s all about fire safety!
Make Sure You have the Right Kind of Smoke Alarm in the Right Place
Here’s the message from a local fireman: “Hi everyone. I’m a fireman with the FDNY but more happily a local family man, and want to pass on some fire prevention information.
With October around the corner, winter will be rolling in soon, and fire seems to accompany the cold weather. Now’s a good time to check that your home has the RIGHT kind of smoke alarms in it. Fast-flaming fires, such as grease fires in the kitchen, respond best to IONIZING detectors.
Slow, smoldering fires, like a cigarette in bed or lost in the couch, respond better to PHOTOELECTRIC detectors. Using the wrong kind in the wrong area can cause a delayed activation, or no activation at all.
Protect your home with Ionizing detectors in cooking areas, and Photoelectric detectors in bedrooms/living areas. The typical lifespan of a smoke alarm is five years, and it’s even less if you smoke inside.
Carbon monoxide detectors are also helpful where gas ovens are used, and in basements with oil (or gas) burners for heating.”
If You Live in A Home with More than One Floor, Don’t forget the Safety Ladder
This is something I hadn’t thought about until a neighbor had a fire in her house. A safety ladder should be stored in an easily accessible place where it would most likely be used in the event of a fire. Some people choose to have more than one, keeping one in each of the main rooms on the upper levels of a home. Make sure that the members of the family who are old enough know how to use it properly.
Check to Make Sure that Your Fire Extinguisher is not Expired
Fire extinguishers have a pressure gauge. If the needle of the gauge is in the green area, it’s functional. If the needle is in any other area, the extinguisher is unreliable and should be serviced or replaced. There should be one stored in an easily accessible place in the kitchen as well as one on each floor.
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