Smoke alarms: Make them work for you

Published on October 01, 2024

Home fires killed more than 2,700 people in the United States in 2022, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and fire departments in the United States responded to 360,000 home fires. Data shows that about 60% of these deaths happen in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. 

Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires almost in half. So how do you make sure you’re covered?

Install, test, replace

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway) and on each level (including the basement) of the home. Ideally, these would be interconnected so when one smoke alarm activates, every alarm in the home activates.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or stop responding when tested.

Learn the sounds

• Make sure everyone in your house knows the sounds of the smoke alarm and what to do if it goes off. 
• Three loud beeps mean smoke or fire. Get out, call 911 and stay out!
• If you hear a chirp every 30–60 seconds, the battery is low or the device has reached its end of life and needs to be replaced. 

What about devices for those that are deaf or hard of hearing?

There are special alarms and devices, like strobe lights and bed shakers, that go off when the standard smoke alarm sounds to alert of a fire.

The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal will provide a bed shaker and/or smoke alarm strobe for those who meet certain criteria. Visit FireMarshal.KS.gov to learn more. 

October is Fire Prevention Month in Lenexa.