SMOKE ALARM TIME!!! - Micky Wisseman

Friday, October 31, 2008

We move our clocks back Sunday, which means it’s time for our bi-annual review of smoke alarms. In the event of a fire, properly installed and maintained smoke alarms offer an early warning, saving the lives of you and your loved ones by providing time to escape. These words of wisdom come courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). There are many different brands of smoke alarms on the market, but they fall under two basic types: ionization and photoelectric. Ionization alarms sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs. Photoelectric alarms are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. Some fire officials prefer photoelectric alarms because they are less prone to nuisance activation from things like cooking and, therefore, less likely to be disabled by homeowners. Dual sensor smoke alarms combine both features into one unit. There are also alarms meeting the needs of people with hearing disabilities. These units use strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to alert those unable to hear standard alarms. There is an ongoing debate within the fire service over which type is better. This debate traces itself to several fatal fires, including one in Easton, MD last summer, where alarms may not have gone off or where fire and smoke were well developed before they activated. Because no one can predict what type of fire might occur, several professional organizations including the USFA now recommend installing both ionization and photoelectric or dual sensor smoke alarms. Install alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. Since smoke and many deadly gases rise, installing your smoke alarms at the proper level provides the earliest warning possible. Interconnected alarms that all go off when one activates are also recommended. Battery-operated, wireless systems are now available. Children and adolescents are a particular concern as new research suggests some sleep so deeply that they may not respond to an alarm, but will to a parent’s voice. The industry now offers alarms that provide loud verbal escape commands when they detect smoke. Smoke alarms are widely available. The BBVFC usually has alarms available at no cost and the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association is distributing them and batteries free at local fire stations this Saturday (Nov. 1) during its annual Wake Up Delaware campaign. You can stop by at BBVFC HQ in Bethany Beach or at Station 2 in Fenwick Island from 11 AM to 1 PM. When installing, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions as there are differences between brands. If your smoke alarm starts "chirping", replace the batteries and reset it. Alarms powered by long-lasting batteries should be totally replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions when the batteries weaken. In standard battery-powered alarms and in hard-wired, battery back up units, the batteries should be checked monthly and replaced at least yearly. If an alarm goes off while you’re cooking, it’s doing its job. Do not disable your alarm if it activates due to cooking or other non-fire causes. You may forget to put the batteries back in. Instead, clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm, leaving the batteries in place, and move it to a new location no farther than 20 feet from the appliance. Some models have a button that will let you “hush” an alarm for 10 minutes while cooking. Most alarms installed today have a life span of about 8-10 years, after which the entire unit should be replaced. Write the date of purchase with a marker on the inside of your alarm. Some newer alarms have the manufacture date on them. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacement. For a few dollars (or even free), a smoke detector provides priceless safety for you and your family. It’s an offer you can’t refuse! Micky Wisseman was born in Milford and joined the BBVFC in 2001 after serving in the Greenwood VFC, where he has been a member since 1989. He is career firefighter/EMT with the Millville VFC and a certified diver, works part time at Sea Colony in property maintenance and heads the BBVFC membership committee. Micky lives in Millville with his two children and can be reached at [email protected].