Do you know more about snack cakes than smoke alarms? Most Americans say ‘yes.’ In a recent survey conducted by ORC International on behalf of Kidde Fire Safety, nearly five times as many Americans know the shelf life of a Twinkie(R) than know the recommended operating life of a smoke alarm. In the survey, 44 percent of respondents correctly identified 45 days as the shelf life of a Twinkie(R), while only 9 percent correctly noted 10 years as a smoke alarm’s operating life.
The survey also found that nearly 50 percent of Americans spend 15 minutes or less shopping for new smoke alarms — products that could save their lives. Kidde’s Worry-Free alarms are designed to simplify choosing the right alarm for the right location. It is the first UL-listed comprehensive line of smoke, CO and combination alarms containing a sealed, lithium battery that lasts 10 years — eliminating low battery chirps and providing nonstop protection.
In 2013, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported 387,000 home fires in the U.S. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Unfortunately, while most homes (96 percent) have a smoke alarm, not all of those alarms work. Almost three out of every five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms, mainly due to dead, missing or disconnected batteries.
To protect your family, take a few minutes to review and follow these simple home fire safety steps:
Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Consider installing smoke alarms with a 10-year sealed-in, tamper-proof battery such as Kidde’s Worry-Free alarms.
Place fire extinguishers within reach on every level of your home, and install UL-listed CO alarms on each floor and near bedrooms.
Create and practice an escape plan with your family. Commit to being a safety hero. Staying fire safe helps keep your family safer and reduces the risk of injury and death to firefighters.
For more information on how you can protect your family from home fires, visit www.Kidde.com.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.