Smoke alarms save lives

5/30/2017 (Permalink)

Checking and changing smoke alarm batteries regularly saves lives.

Fast facts about fire

House fires

• In 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 367,500 house fires. These fires caused 2,745 deaths, 11,825 civilian injuries, and $6.8 billion in direct damage.
• On average, seven people die in U.S. house fires per day.
• One quarter of house fires that started in the bedroom caused deaths.
• Three out of five house fire deaths happen in houses with no working smoke alarms.
• Cooking equipment is the leading cause of house fire injuries, followed by heating equipment.
• Smoking materials are the leading cause of house fire deaths.
• During 2009-2013, roughly one of every 335 households had a reported house fire per year.

Smoke alarms

• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported house fires in half.
• In fires large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 94% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated 80% of the time.
• When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead.
• Ionization smoke alarms are generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke alarms are generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, or where extra time is needed to awaken or assist others, a combination of ionization and photoelectric alarms are recommended. 

Source:

http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/fast-facts-about-fire