Where To Install Smoke Detectors

Smoke detector (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Where to Install Smoke Detectors in Your Home

Author: Toby
Smoke detectors are an important tool to have in the home. This is because you will be able to detect any smoke or small fires in the home, thereby allowing you to put out the fire early or to find out the cause for the alarm to go off. Many people believe that the only place to place smoke detectors is in the kitchen because it is the one place that people use fire and electricity the most. While this may be true, there are a number of places and strategic spots in one\'s residence where a smoke detector may come in handy.
As earlier mentioned, the first place to install smoke detectors in your home is the kitchen. This is the room in the home with the stove, gas cooker, oven, grill, electrical appliances and even heaters which are used for cooking and other tasks. There is a debate on which smoke detector is the most effective because there are some brands that give off false alarms, something that could prove dangerous in the long run.
The next place that one must consider placing smoke detectors in the home is the bedrooms or sleeping area. This is because electrical faults, cigarette smoke or even candle smoke may cause an alarm to go off. If you do not have detectors in the bedrooms to detect any possible fire trouble, then tragic accidents while people are asleep may occur. You can choose to have detectors close to the bedrooms if they are along the same corridor. However, if the rooms are spread out, then you may need to get individual gadgets for the rooms.
The sitting/living room or lounge is another place in the home where people spend a lot of time. People may choose to smoke in the lounge and there are also a lot of electrical equipment like the home theatre system and many others. You will need a smoke detector in this room because you will prevent other inhabitants of the home or even guests from suffering fire related injuries.
If your home has an office, this is also a place worth considering when choosing places in the home to place detectors. This is because paper catches fire quickly and that is what is mostly found in an office space. There may also be electrical equipment like printers, scanners and computers which can cause a fire in case of a power surge.
Corridors and the stairway are also excellent places to have smoke detectors. This is because you need an advance warning if there is a fire in the home in order to clear the corridor on time. It is said that smoke travels upwards and in order to avoid fire in a home with more than 2 storeys, then a stairway smoke detector is a must have.
Other places you can have smoke detectors include a garage to avoid gas explosions. Also indoor pet shelter areas are a good place to have detectors in order to save your pet from a fire situation. Smoke detectors, as evident, are an absolute necessity in the home.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-security-articles/where-to-install-smoke-detectors-in-your-home-3528188.html
About the Author
Toby is the webmaster for Galesburg Electric/Industrial Supply, Inc. A large selection of  smoke alarms can be found at our website www.GalesburgElectric.com

Fire Safety Worksheets For Kids

English: Inglenook fireplace Interior of old cottage in The Street, Bredgar. Too warm for the wood-burning stove to be lit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Teaching Children About The Dangers Of a Fire In The Home

By Adam Maddux

All parents have an internal gauge to protect and defend their children at any cost. However, we sometimes forget to teach our children the things they need to know to protect themselves. That's why it's important to always teach your children about the dangers of fire and what to do about preventing one and escaping from one if it were to happen in your home.

If you are using a fireplace or woodstove inside your home, it is of the utmost important to practice diligent safety precautions to avoid dangerous accidents that can cause injury and damage to your home. This is especially true if you have children living in, or visiting your house. Having an open flame of any type simply means you will need to be more diligent in making sure all safety precautions are followed and never allow those areas where that open flame is to go without supervision.

You must teach children about the dangers of fires in the home. Explain to them that fires are helpful for heating the home in a more environmentally friendly and efficient way and that's why you use them. Also explain to them the need to be extremely careful around any open flame in the home. Show your children proper safety techniques by following them and using them yourself. Always use protective equipment when tending to an open flame, and use a fireplace cage and other protective measures - especially when children are present. Explain to your children that they shouldn't play with burning logs or anything hot, and that if they see a spark or see anything outside the wood stove burning, to tell an adult immediately. The most important thing to remember is that you should never leave a child unattended by a burning fireplace or wood stove.

Along these same lines you should also teach your children the dangers of playing with and using lighters and matches. Sometimes we assume our children just know these things are dangerous and forget they are curious creatures and like to explore and find out things on their own. Most homes have lighters, matches and sometimes torches just lying around within reach. Because kids see us casually using these items and sometimes think they should be able to use them as well it is beneficial to make sure these are kept in places beyond the reach of children.

Once a kid is old enough to reach the matches and lighters they are normally old enough to use them responsibly. It is at this point parents should teach their kids how to use them. Being taught how to start a fire or correctly light the barbecue is a great way to teach safety when it comes to fire.

By practicing safe techniques in and around your home, you will protect your family and your belongings from unnecessary damage. Beyond this, you will teach your children to exhibit safe practices inside your house, and when they are not with you. It's of the utmost importance to teach children how to behave safely around any fire. The best way you can do this is to practice safety when handling open flames to set an example for the children in your home.

Teaching your child about fire safety should be one of the first things you do, especially if you have any type of open flame in your home for heating. You can check out http://www.nashvillechimneyexperts.com/ for more great information on general fire safety for your home.

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