CANADIAN HOME TRENDS & FIRST ALERT
UPGRADE ALARMS FOR ENHANCED HOME SAFETY
If you ’ re planning home improvements this year , consider adding smoke and carbon monoxide alarm upgrades to your project list . These necessary safety products are an easy addition , and yet many Canadians are under-protected and unprepared when it comes to detectable – and usually preventable – threats like smoke , fire and carbon monoxide ( CO ). According to the Canadian National Fire Information Database , 80 per cent of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms , often due to missing batteries or expired alarms . Additionally , many homes lack proper CO protection , with a consumer survey reporting that more than one-third of Canadian homes don ’ t have CO alarms . Often dubbed the “ silent killer ,” CO is an invisible , odorless gas that is impossible to detect without an alarm and is the number one cause of accidental poisoning in Canada . Fortunately , there are several easy ways to help keep your family and home safe by taking a few simple precautions and installing the latest in fire and CO alarm technology .
COVER YOUR BASES
Even if you have smoke and CO alarms in your home , you and your family may not be sufficiently protected if you don ’ t have enough devices . To ensure the highest level of protection , follow the National Fire Protection Association ’ s recommendation to install smoke and CO alarms inside every bedroom , outside each sleeping area , and on every level of the home , including the basement .
TEST AND MAINTAIN ALARMS
Once enough alarms are installed , be sure to properly maintain them . Fire safety experts report that more than 60 per cent of consumers do not regularly test their smoke and CO alarms . Alarms should be tested regularly , and the batteries changed every six months .
BE SAFE , REPLACE
Smoke and CO alarms are on duty 24 / 7 and need to be replaced at least every 10 years . If you can ’ t remember when you installed your alarms , chances are , it ’ s time to replace them . Installing new ones ensures you are protected with the most advanced sensing technologies and the latest safety features available .