Facts About Smoke Alarms

1. Protect yourself and your family.
Install smoke alarms - it's the law. The Ontario Fire Code
requires that every home have working smoke alarms.

2. Smoke alarms save lives.
Most fatal fires occur at night when people are asleep. Often,
victims never wake up. A working smoke alarm will detect
smoke and sound an alarm to alert you, giving you precious
time to escape.

3. Buying the best alarm.
There are many types of smoke alarms, each with different
features. Alarms can be electrically connected, battery powered
or a combination of both. This combination - and a pause
feature to reduce nuisance alarms - are highly recommended.

4. One smoke alarm is not enough.
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and near
sleeping areas. If you or your loved ones sleep with bedroom
doors closed, install an alarm inside each bedroom.

5. Where to install smoke alarms.
Because smoke rises, you should place alarms on the ceiling. If
you cannot do this, place them high up on a wall, according to
manufacturer's instructions. There are certain locations to avoid
such as near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows, or close
to ceiling fans.

6. Test your smoke alarm regularly.
Every month, test your smoke alarms, using the alarm test
button. Once a month test your alarms using smoke from a
smouldering cotton string. Follow your owner's manual.

7. Change your clock, change your battery.
Install a new battery of the proper type at least once a year. If
the low battery warning beeps, replace the battery immediately.
We change our clocks each spring and fall so this a good time
to change your smoke alarm batteries too.

8. Gently vacuum alarm every six months.
Dust can clog a smoke alarm, so carefully vacuum the inside of
a battery powered unit using the soft bristle brush. If electrically
connected, shut off the power and vacuum the outside vents
only. Restore power and test unit when finished.

9. Smoke alarms don't last forever.
Smoke alarms do wear out, so if you think your alarms are
more than 10 years old, replace them with new ones. Why not
replace them with long-life smoke alarms that will eliminate the
need for annual battery replacement and the potential hazard of
dead batteries for up to 10 years.

10. Plan your escape.
Make sure that everyone knows the sound of the smoke alarm
and what to do if a fire occurs. Regularly practice your home fire
escape plan. Know two ways out of every room and have a
pre-arranged meeting place outside. Once out, stay out and call
the fire department from a neighbour's home.