Smoke detector, fire safety could save your life

  • Published
  • By Eielson Fire and Emergency Services Flight
  • Eielson Fire & Emergency Services Flight
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  These are simple changes that could save your life.

Change your smoke detector batteries: The Eielson Fire Prevention Office and fire experts nationwide encourage people to change smoke detector batteries at least twice a year. An easy way to remember is when we change the clocks for daylight savings change the batteries in your smoke detector. Replace old batteries with fresh, high quality alkaline batteries to keep your smoke detector in peak operating condition. 

Check Your Smoke Detectors: After inserting a fresh battery in your smoke detector, check to make sure the smoke detector itself is working by pushing the safety test button and check your detectors on a MONTHLY basis. 

Count Your Smoke Detectors: There should be at least one smoke detector on every level of your home, including the basement. 

Vacuum your smoke detectors each month: clean your smoke detectors of dust and cobwebs to ensure they will activate quickly in the event of a fire. 

Plan and Practice Your Escape: Create at least two different escape routes and practice them with the entire family. Children twice as likely to die in a home fire because they often become scared and confused during fires. Make sure your children understand that a smoke detector signals a home fire and that they recognize its alarm.

Consider The Following: Each day, statistics show an average of three children die in home fires - 1,100 children each year. About 3,600 children are injured in house fires each year. 90 percent of child fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Although smoke detectors are in 92 percent of American homes, nearly one-third don't work because of old or missing batteries. A working smoke detector reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.

The Eielson Fire Prevention Office urges you to change all batteries in your home smoke detectors. Batteries are available through self-help stores or commercial retailers.