Ever hear that BEEP at 2 a.m.?
Today’s post is by Gayl Southard, Administrative Consultant for SafeSourcing.
Ever hear that BEEP at 2 a.m.? Ever end up taking a smoke detector down to make it quiet? Ever lose a good night’s sleep? Ever stare up at the high ceiling wondering how you are going to replace the battery in that smoke detector without falling off a teetering ladder? That’s exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago. Because my husband was out of town and I was completely on my own, I decided I needed to be fully awake in order to get up on a ladder in the middle of the night. I made a cup of coffee, drank it, and then got out my 8-foot ladder out of the garage. I got up on the ladder, and removed the battery. (Luckily, I had replacement batteries in the house…at lease I thought I was lucky). It turns out my replacement batteries were old and the BEEPING continued. Because my smoke alarms are hard-wired into the electrical system, once the battery is removed, the BEEPING continues. My poor dog was a wreck with the constant BEEPING and I was losing my mind! I had to wait until 8 am for the drug store to open in order to buy new batteries. Now armed with new batteries, I changed the battery and finally the house was silent. I thought I was in luck when that whole scenario repeated the next night at midnight. It sounded like the same alarm, but it turned out it was a guest room smoke detector that was BEEPING this time. Do they talk to each other? Who knows. The following week I had a handyman at the house doing some odd jobs, so I had him change every smoke detector battery in the house.
Smoke detectors are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When a fire begins, smoke spreads quickly. Working smoke detectors give you an early warning so you can get out quickly. The following are some safety tips:
- A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Put a smoke detector in every bedroom, as well as outside the sleeping areas. Install a smoke detector on every level of your house, as well as the basement. Smoke detectors should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
- Larger homes need more smoke detectors.
- Test detectors monthly.
- There are two kinds of alarms, ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use both types in the home.
- Alarms should be on the ceiling or high on the wall. Keep alarms away from the kitchen in order to reduce false alarms.
- Replace alarms after 10 years.
- Plan your escape route.
Safesourcing can help you with all of your personal and business related fire, safety and inspection needs, whether it is for equipment, services or both. For more information on how we can help you with your procurement needs or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.
