West Lindsey District Council are supporting Fire Home Safety Week, in an aim to raise awareness of Smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide in your home.
We have produced this article with tips and advice sent to us by the National Fire Chiefs Council:
- The main reason for smoke alarms failing to activate is because the smoke did not reach the detector. Having smoke alarms in your home will give you early warning if there is a fire, but only if they are in the right place! Make sure that you install alarms in the rooms you use the most!
- If your home has cooking or heating appliances which do not run off electricity, you should also have a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Missing or defective batteries was one of the main reasons for smoke alarms failing to activate in accidental house fires in the UK. The sensors in smoke alarms can degrade over time, so it is advised that you replace all smoke alarms after ten years.
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Make sure smoke alarms are not placed in dusty areas as dust can damage the sensor. This can cause false alarms or your alarms not to work when you need them to. If you live in rented accommodation, your landlord should have installed smoke alarms, but it is down to you to test them regularly and report any problems.
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Here is a link to a YouTube video, with advice on what to do if you hear a neighbour's smoke alarm
For more information about Fire Home Safety Week, search for the hashtag #SafeHome21 on Social Media, and visit Home Safety Week.