Many Miami homeowners are unaware of the importance of a smoke detector in their home, and therefore unaware of the important role a smoke detector plays in their family’s safety. What many people do not know is that smoke inhalation is the leading cause of home fire deaths, not complications from burns. The U.S. Fire Administration reported that in 2007, 84% of all civilian fire deaths occurred in residences and 74% of home fire deaths occurred in homes with no or no working smoke alarms. Additionally, fires killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined. For Miami residents, according to the American Red Cross Greater Miami and the Keys, their chapter has thus far responded to more than 450 home fires in Miami-Dade and Monroe County this year.
With statistics as these, it is paramount for homeowners to take action in preventing home fires and in early detection of a home fire. Here are some crucial tips for preventing a home fire:
- Kitchen fires are the number one cause of home fires, so always remain in the kitchen while using appliances.
- Keep flammable items, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains a minimum of three feet away from the stovetop.
- Place lit candles away from any items that may burn.
- Turn lit candles off before leaving a room for a long period of time or before leaving your home.
- Finally, it is best to not keep gasoline in your home, but if so, use a special safety container kept away from your home.
While prevention is the most important step to home fire safety, in the case of a home fire, a monitored smoke detector is the best protection for you and your family. With an ADT approved monitored smoke detector, your home is safe from fire and smoke damage, and you are given quick access to the authorities, whether you are at home, away, or sound asleep. All ADT packages come with a premier keypad that includes police, fire, medical, and panic buttons for all your safety needs. In addition, with the ADT Two-Way Voice Keypad, keypad buttons are enlarged for even easier access, and when an active alarm is triggered, or when you chose to activate the interactive audio session, you are quickly linked to the ADT monitoring center.
Once your home is securely protected against home fire and smoke damage with a monitored smoke detector, some important smoke detector location and maintenance tasks are in order.
- You should test your smoke detector once a month. This is a very quick and easy task; simply push the test button until you hear the alarm.
- The battery in your smoke detector should be changed annually.
- If your smoke detector is over 10 years old, get a new smoke detector.
- Finally, make sure there is a smoke on every floor of your home, especially where people sleep. Although the majority of home fires occur in the kitchen, mattresses, bedding, clothing, curtains, and other “soft goods” are the primary materials to ignite in a home fire.
These facts are just as important, so make sure to follow them as well other home fire safety tips. With the help of an ADT monitored smoke detector and other preventative measures, your home, and most importantly your family, will be safe and secure.
