With 2018 underway, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is urging people to make testing their smoke alarms at least once a month a New Year’s resolution. Why not circle the first of every month on your new calendar and tick it off when you have tested your alarms? Or program your electronic diary on your mobile phone to remind you on the first Tuesday of every month with a ‘Test it Tuesday’ message?
Many people see January as an opportunity for a fresh start, and safety should be at top of the list. So this January, CFRS is encouraging everyone to make sure they have enough smoke alarms in their home and that they work. It only takes a few seconds and can save lives.
Smoke alarms can give someone the few extra seconds they need to escape in a fire. While the majority of homes across the country now have an alarm fitted, most people are not aware that the average alarm has a lifespan of only 10 years and then it needs to be replaced.
For people who live in a larger property, a single smoke alarm is not enough. The recommendation is for least one alarm on every level of a property. Last year, in nearly half of all fires in the home where the smoke alarm did not give a warning, the reason was that the alarm was not close enough to detect the fire. Missing or flat batteries were another major cause.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is urging people to make sure that their alarms are up to date and are up to the job.
To keep your alarms in working order:
- Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home
- Test your smoke alarms by pushing the button every month
- Check that your smoke alarms are less than 10 years old
- Fit smoke alarms on landings and hallways and near bedrooms. Also consider in rooms which have electrical appliances – e.g. a heater or charger
- Take a moment to check on your loved ones or elderly neighbours who may need help to ensure they’re fully protected
Station Manager Mark Ducie from CFRS’s Prevention department said: “At this time of year, many people will be thinking of what they can do – big or small – to make a fresh start and improve their lives, homes and wellbeing. Smoke alarms can offer vital protection for you and your loved ones, but most people simply fit and forget – they don’t know if it might be coming to the end of its lifespan or even if it’s working at all.
“For most of us, there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and secure. So if your alarms are getting past their best or your top floor is missing an alarm of its own, make your New Year’s resolution to fit new ones, test them on the first of every month and protect your loved ones in 2018.”
To arrange a free Safe and Well visit from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service at your property or business premises, contact us on 0800 358 4777.
