FD: Smoke Alarms

Protect your family with Smoke Alarms & CO Detectors

Smoke alarms save lives and property. 

National Fire Protection Agency Report

  • Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%). 
  • The death rate per 100 reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working smoke alarms.
  • In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, almost half (46%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. 

Get a Free Smoke Alarm or Installation Help

Safety Tips

  • Never remove a good battery or otherwise disable the detectors.
  • Know what to do after a detector sounds.
  • Plan a home escape route in the event of a fire.

Carbon Monoxide Risks At HomeCarbon monoxide warning poster

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas.

In the bloodstream, CO prevents oxygen from combining with hemoglobin and restricts oxygen delivery to vital organs. CO poisoning can cause a number of symptoms, depending on the length and severity of the exposure.

  • Mild exposure can result in a slight headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue, such as flu-like symptoms.
  • Medium exposure can produce headaches, drowsiness, confusion and fast heart rate. 
  • Extreme exposure can produce unconsciousness, convulsions, heart and lung fatigue, brain damage and eventually death.

Possible sources of CO In the home:

  • Gas heating and cooking equipment.
  • Fireplaces.
  • Gas water heaters.
  • Vehicles running in attached garages.

The best defenses against CO poisoning:

  • Safe use of vehicles, particularly in attached garages.
  • Proper installation, use and maintenance of household gas cooking and heating equipment. 
  • Annual Appliance check-ups by trained technicians to ensure they are working properly. 
  • Installation of CO detectors.

What to do if your CO Detector goes off

CO detectors are very sensitive and may occasionally give a false indication of a problem. It is important to evaluate the conditions of the occupants when an alarm occurs. 

  • If any symptoms of CO poisoning are present, the building should be immediately and completely evacuated and the Fire Department should be summoned by calling 911.
  • If no indications of CO poisoning are present, the detector may be reset. If the detector activates again, call the Fire Department via 911.