According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), while nearly all U.S. households have at least one smoke alarm installed, in a startling one-fifth of these homes, none are working – most often due to missing batteries and intentional deactivation. The consequences can be tragic with almost two-thirds of home fire deaths each year occurring in properties without working smoke alarms.
In honor of Fire Prevention Month this October, First Alert, the most trusted name in home safety, is encouraging consumers to “Power Up!” their smoke and CO alarms in a nationwide public education campaign focused on encouraging consumers to test alarms and, if needed, update their homes with newer devices that use advanced technology to combat frequent false alarms and better detect real threats.
This call to action is particularly timely as the holiday season – marked by an increased use of stoves, ovens, fireplaces and other potentially CO-emitting heating sources – quickly approaches.
Known in the fire industry as “nuisance alarms,” frequent false alarms are typically caused by excessive smoke or steam – and are the number one reason people disable and/or remove batteries from their alarms. Even those who don’t go to the extreme of disabling their devices can be negatively affected by recurring nuisance alarms which, over time, can lead people to become desensitized to the sound and fail to act in an actual emergency.
Proper alarm placement, regular maintenance and alarm replacement are keys to evading the annoyance of nuisance alarms. According to Hanson, if you experience repeated false alarms, the problem could be solved by simply replacing with newer models, such as the First Alert Maximum Protection series of alarms, which feature breakthrough anti-nuisance technology. In case of false alarms, a mute button will temporarily silence alarm activation.
They are also having a “Power Up!” sweepstakes, which allows 10 fans each day a chance to win a First Alert smoke alarm and pack of Duracell batteries (now through Oct. 31). At the end of the month, five grand prize winners will receive a “Power Up!” prize pack, including five First Alert smoke alarms with Duracell batteries and a First Alert security camera system.
Since this is so important, I have arranged for one lucky reader to win a smoke and fire alarm! Here's what you need to do:
Additional Contest Rules:
This contest is open to US residents.
There is no cash value prize equivalent for this contest.
Winner will have 48 hours upon notification being sent to claim the prize, if winner does not respond within 48 hours, then the winner forfeits the prize and a new winner will be chosen.
Any room could really use a smoke detector, but it will most likely go in the hallway where everyone can hear it!
We would put this in our hallway.
I would put in the dining room.
We need to replace our downstairs smoke detector because it is very old
abfantom at yahoo dot com
My childrens safety is a number 1 priority in my life!
We need it for our hallway! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Reneewalters3@yahoo.com
The living room!
Our living room needs a detector.
I need to put an alarm in the hallway by the bedrooms.
Our kitchen needs an alarm
the attic.
Kitchen.
My kitchen for sure!!
we need one in our atttic bedroom 🙂
My kitchen
Marianna
I would use this in the upstairs hallways between my two son's rooms.
Thanks!
I'd put this in the family room.
In my living room.
im moving into a new house want to make sure i have new ones
The kitchen. Ours didn't go off when the pan on the stove started smoking. The power went off and I had forgotten to turn off the burner. The power came back on while we were out. The kitchen was filled with smoke and the house was quite! But it goes off when I boil a pot of water in the middle of winter. I think there is something wrong with it.
kitchen
the kitchen
i need one in the hallway
This would be for our hallway
I would put the smoke alarm in the garage
My bedroom.
Basement
my kitchen
jdmimi at gmail dot com
My living room needs it!
I need a fire alarm for my long hallway.
My living room needs this 🙂
I need one in the hallway by the cellar door.
id put this in our upstairs hallway
upstairs hallway
my living room
I need one in the bedroom of ours.
My kitchen!
the bedroom
Our bedroom needs one.
Thanks for the giveaway… Kitchen
My bathroom, where we use a space heater on occasion.
I would put it in the hallway. That is the central area for all the bedrooms.