This melted smoke alarm did not warn the Eastsound resident because the battery had been removed!
A working smoke alarm can
double your chances of surviving a home fire by providing
the extra time for a safe escape. The majority of fatal
home fires happen at night, when people are asleep. And
contrary to popular belief, the “smell” center of the human
brain functions only when you are awake. So the smell of
smoke will not wake you up, but the poisonous gases in
smoke will put you into a deeper sleep. Install and
maintain a smoke alarm on each level of your home,
especially in or near sleeping areas.
Nationally, more than 90% of all homes have smoke alarm,
but at least one-third of these are not working due to a
missing or dead battery. Test your smoke alarm every month
and change the battery at least once a year. You can bring
your old 9-volt battery to the Eastsound Fire Station and
trade it in for a new smoke alarm battery free of charge.
Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10-years old. The
smoke sensing components become less effective over time.
And technology has improved. Many smoke alarm now have a
“hush button” that resets the unit after a few minutes.
This handy feature means you
do not have
to remove the battery every time you burn a piece of toast!
http://www.firesafety.gov/citizens/alarms/
Home Smoke Alarm
Installation, Replacement and Maintenance assistance is
available upon request. We are happy to schedule a visit to
test and replace your smoke alarm batteries for free or
exchange your used 9-volt smoke alarm battery for a new one
FREE. We offer new/replacement smoke alarms for low-income
households. Hearing-impaired smoke alarms are also
available. Please call 376-2331 for more information.
Help
us help you. Prevent the fire before it starts!
Carbon Monoxide
Each year in America, Carbon
Monoxide poisoning kills more than 500 people and creates
another 15,200 medical emergencies. Carbon monoxide (CO) is
a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the
incomplete burning of fuels, like propane or natural gas,
oil, kerosene, coal, or even wood. Everyone is at risk for
CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies,
infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or
lung problems are at even greater risk.
Symptoms
of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The
initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu
(but without the fever). They include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness
Many people with CO poisoning mistake their symptoms for the flu or are misdiagnosed by physicians, which sometimes results in tragic deaths.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning
- Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
- Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers for heating your home.
- Never operate unvented, fuel-burning appliances in any room with closed doors or windows or in any room where people are sleeping.
- Do not use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors.
- Make sure appliances are installed according to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes. Have the heating system (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually.
-
Install a CO detector/alarm.
- If you think you are experiencing any of the symptoms of CO poisoning,
- Evacuate all occupants immediately.
- Determine how many are ill and determine their symptoms.
- Call your fire department and when reporting the emergency, include the number of people feeling ill.
- Do not re-enter the home without the approval of your fire department.