GIFTS OF LOVE - GIFTS OF LIFE
The Madison Fire Department has a few suggestions
for gifts that could save the life of someone you love.
Smoke Detectors Studies have shown that
having a smoke detector in your home cuts the risk of dying in a
fire in half. Smoke detectors are effective & inexpensive life
saving devices that can provide early warning in the event of a
fire, thus allowing time for escape.
Is your current smoke
detector too old? A detector should work for about 10 years,
after which time it should be discarded. Your new detector may come
with a reminder label saying "replace by 2006." If not,
post your own reminder note. Prices range locally from $5 to $30
depending on the power source used & the number of special
features present.
Fire Extinguishers Almost 90 percent of
American homes have at least one smoke detector, yet only about 30
percent of American homes have even one fire extinguisher. Be sure
you buy a model large enough to protect your home against fires of
all common burning materials. We recommend a multipurpose 2-A:10-B:C
fire extinguisher to deal with most kinds of household fires. Make
sure that you familiarize yourself with the basic steps to operate
the extinguisher & that the extinguisher you buy is a
rechargeable model. Prices range from $20 to $40 depending on size
& features.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors More than 200
deaths a year in the USA from carbon monoxide (CO) result from an
inefficient or malfunctioning furnace, space heater, or other
fuel-burning appliance. Regularly maintaining your home's heating
system is the best way to reduce the risk of CO poisoning.
But just to be safe, you can also install a
detector that continuously monitors the air for high levels of CO,
much as the smoke detector is always on-guard against signs of fire.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has proposed that a CO
detector be mandatory for all new residential construction, starting
in 1995, and recommends that all existing homes be equipped with
the devices. A CO detector is most important in homes that have a
fuel-fired hot-air furnace or a space heater, wood stove, or
fireplace -- the most common household sources of carbon monoxide.
Prices range from about $30 to $60 depending on the power source
used.
For more information on smoke detectors, fire
extinguishers & carbon monoxide detectors please contact the
Community Education Unit at (608) 266-4420.
