Does your home have a smoke detector?

Nile

Well done if you answer yes to the question.

If you don't have a smoke detector, why not? Did you see on the news that three little girls died this week in a house fire in Goole, East Yorkshire?

Remember to test the smoke detector(s) regularly. When you visit your friends/family, ask them if they have a smoke detector.

Andrea

And remember to change the batteries once a year.

stub451

When we had our loft converted, our builder insisted (in the nicest way) on installing three linked smoke detectors. (One of his previous jobs burnt down!!).

So if one alarm goes off - they all go off. Very useful for those sleeping in the loft bedroom if a fire starts on the ground floor.

Should be a simple task for a competant electrician.

COS

Nile a great reminder

For those of you who don't have a smoke alarm read this and then before doing anything else get yourself to the nearest shop of which sells them and buy at least one and one for a friend, it does'nt matter if you think they might have one as it can be passed on.Then tonight when you are snug in your nice warm bed take comfort that you may have saved a life.


My thoughts are with the family who have lost their three children in a house fire this week.


Chris

mini

We do.

The other important item you need is a plan, especially if you have kids, if you need to get out fast who takes who, could save vital seconds we also keep a mobile phone by the bed (your home phone may not work in case of fire)

Some (maybe all?) local fire stations have people who will visit your home & install smoke alarms free of charge & advise you on safety.

Such a sad story in the news, I hadn't heard the story, it's so very sad

mini

lawrat

Thats just inspired me to go round and test our alarms.

Thanks for that

vanoonoo

I don't have have a smoke alarm and now I feel terrible that I don't have one so I may go and get one from tesco with my clubcard vouchers which came through this morning.

Although I have my own personal escape plan (thanks for the nudge mini) I don't know how I would go about getting my cats out - I know people would say to leave them but I would like to think that I could at least have one quick attempt at getting them out - any ideas?

Nile

Vanoonoo

Please don't say "I may go and get one", tell me that you will buy one today!!!!

A smoke detector will give you vital time to escape in the event of a fire in your home. No excuses now, GO AND BUY A SMOKE DETECTOR NOW!!!

I want to be able to sleep soundly, knowing that you're all safe and sound.

vanoonoo

I shall go and buy at least one this evening and I will make sure it is working before I go to bed - ok?

I don't think I can get up a step ladder to install it though so where is a good plaec to leave it until I can fix it up properly?

On a table maybe? Or on my bannister?

Nile

I have several smoke detectors in my home, apart from in the kitchen because the burned toast would set if off! To illustrate how effective smoke detectors are, the last time I burned the toast, as I opened the kitchen door to go into the hall it set off the hall smoke detector. The kitchen wasn't smoke logged, just a bit of burned toast smell but it was enough to set off the detector!! Are you convinced yet that they could save your life?

Start with placing one in your hall, the higher up the better. One at the top of the stairs (unless you live in a bungalow of course) is a good location. If you can't reach the ceiling, fix the detector(s) high up on the wall.

Sorry to shout and bang on about this subject. If you'd seen the news pictures of the house where the little girls died, you'd be spurred into action.

I've done a fire fighting course at work so I'm all clued up.

I know this is a money saving site but I hope I've wasted my money on all the smoke detectors, fire blanket and fire extinguishers I've bought for the house and that I never have a fire at home. But.........I'm prepared for the worst.

tonyivb

A great post Nile!

We've been in our place for 3 years without a smoke detector and each time there was fire on the news we thought 'We really must get a detector' but always forgetting about it when we were at B&Q.

Anyway, I actually went out and bought two detectors last week... one for smoke and one for Carbon monoxide.

One point that I didn't know, you can get two types of smoke detectors - 'ionisation' and 'photo electric'

Aparently, the ionisation type is good for fast burning fires and the photo electric is best for smouldering fires (according to the blurb anyway).

One other point from the fitting instructions... "When fitting the alarm on the wall, use an inside wall with the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 10cm and a maximum of 30cm below the ceiling." The reason for this is that the area in the corner between the wall & ceiling is a 'dead air' space.

Tony