11 May 2011

Fire Corps has also teamed up with First Alert to provide a smoke alarm donation program

Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire are as deadly as heat and flames. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimise property damage by detecting fires early and alerting residents.

Every year, approximately 2,600 Americans die in home fires. Over half of these deaths (52%) occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping.

Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire are as deadly as heat and flames. Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke can render you unconscious. In addition, smoke obscures vision, decreasing your ability to escape.

Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimise property damage by detecting fires early and alerting residents, allowing crucial time to escape. The risk of dying from a fire in a home without working smoke alarms is twice as high as in a home with working smoke alarms.

To find out what type of smoke alarms are available for your home, including where to install and how to maintain them, visit this link on the U.S.Fire Administration's web site.

Fire Corps has also teamed up with First Alert to provide a smoke alarm donation program for registered Fire Corps programmes. Click here to learn more as well as access Fire Corps' Home Safety Checklist and other smoke alarm and fire prevention resources.