This year’s resolution - protect your loved ones from fire

With the New Year underway, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service are asking people to make one of their resolutions in 2013 to check that their smoke alarms are up to date and are in the right place to protect their home.

A spokesperson said "Many people see January as an opportunity for a fresh start, and safety should be no exception. So this month we are encouraging everyone to make sure they have enough working smoke alarms in their home."

A smoke alarm can give someone the few extra seconds they need to escape in a fire. But while the majority of homes across the country now have an alarm fitted, most people are not aware that the average alarm has a lifespan of just ten years and then needs replacing.

On top of that, for those who live in a multi-storey home or a larger property a single smoke alarm may simply not be enough. Last year, nearly half of all household fires in the UK, where the smoke alarm did not give a warning were because the alarm was not close enough to detect the fire.

So Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is asking people to make sure that their alarms are up to date and up to the job.

To keep your alarms in working order:

• Test your smoke alarm by pushing the button regularly.
• Check the packaging for your smoke alarm to make sure it’s still up to date.
• Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home.
• Fit smoke alarms on landings and hallways and in rooms which have an electrical appliance.
• Take a moment to check on your less able loved ones to ensure they’re fully protected

Phil Martin, Area Manager for Community Safety said: “At this time of year, many will be thinking of what they can do - big or small - to make a fresh start and improve their lives, homes and wellbeing. A smoke alarm can offer vital protection for you and your loved ones, but most people simply fit and then forget them – they don’t know if it might be coming to the end of its lifespan.

“For most of us, there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and secure. So if your alarm is getting past its best or your top floor is missing an alarm of its own, make your New Year’s resolution to fit new ones, and protect your loved ones in 2013. “