Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries.  If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need to have time to get out.  A large number of fires that result in deaths and injuries are during hours that residents are sleeping.  Working smoke alarms give residents extra time to respond and exit the home, having a working smoke alarm reduces the chance of dying in a home fire in half, almost two thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms.  Safety tips for smoke alarms:

• Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom, sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
• Use interconnected smoke alarms, when one alarm sounds they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms each month.
• Have an escape plan, and meeting place for your family.Practice your escape plan.
• People with hearing disabilities can install special alarms that include bed shakers, and strobe lighting.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years, or according to manufacturer’s recommendations.