Smoke
detectors are life savers but putting them in the wrong place in your home is as
good as not having them at all.
Every home should have at least one smoke detector on
every floor. An upstairs detector can sense smoke wherever it
originates. A downstairs detector will react sooner to a fire that could
block escape routes on the first floor.
Smoke detectors should be placed on the ceiling or high
on a wall near the bedrooms. This enables the detector to sense the smoke as it
approaches the sleeping area.
Locate your smoke detector away from air outlet vents.
Call your local fire department for advice on the best place to install your
detectors.
Smoke detectors differ in several ways.
Power source.
Some detectors are powered by batteries that last approximately one
year. Others operate on household electric current for as long as there is
current in the circuit to which they are connected. Plug-in units must be
located near an electric outlet where they will not be unplugged or turned
off by a wall switch. "Wired-in"
electric detectors are somewhat more difficult to install and may require
an electrician.
Alarm.
Standard smoke detectors sound a loud alarm to wake
home residents from their sleep. Special smoke detectors, designed for the
hearing impaired, come equipped with a strong strobe light that blinks
when the detector senses smoke. These detectors should be installed inside
the appropriate bedroom, rather than in the hallway, so that the light
will be stronger and more likely to awaken the individual. |
