Free Smoke Detector Program

The program targets privately owned households within the Hernando County. All households are encouraged to have a Smoke Detector in their home. The program is sponsored by the State Bureau of Fire Prevention and Radio Shack.

The three-toned alarms include a popular reset button that lets users press a button rather than take out the battery if the detector sounds off during cooking or non-threatening situation.

Smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries from fire and have contributed to the almost 50% decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s. It is estimated that 95% of U.S homes have at least one smoke alarm. Sixty-five percent of reported home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire.

Facts & figures

• A 2004 telephone survey found that 96% of U.S. households had at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2000-2004, no smoke alarms were present or none operated in almost half (46%) of the reported home fires.
  
• An estimated 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms.
  
• 65% of reported home fire deaths in 2000-2004 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
  
• The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51% less than the rate for homes without this protection.
  
• In one out of every five homes equipped with at least one smoke alarm installed, not a single one was working.
  
• Why do smoke alarms fail? Most often because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Nuisance activations were the leading cause of disabled smoke alarms.

Sensing systems

Most smoke alarms use one of two common sensing systems for detecting a fire.

• Ionization-type smoke alarms have a small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates, which ionizes the air and causes current to flow between the plates. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm.
  
• Photoelectric-type alarms aim a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor. Smoke enters the chamber, reflecting light onto the light sensor; triggering the alarm.
  
• Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. Both types of technologies have improved home fire safety.

Installation and maintenance tips

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be interconnected.
  
• Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They can be interconnected so that every alarm sounds regardless of the fire's location. This is an advantage in early warning, because it gives occupants extra time to escape if they are in one part of the home and a fire breaks out in another part. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery backups in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified electrician.
  
• If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound.
  
• If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration and/or sound.
  
• Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
  
• If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point.
  
• Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
  
• Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep the alarms from working.

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing

• Consider installing a smoke alarm that uses a flashing light, vibration and/or sound to alert people to a fire emergency. The majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping, and because smoke can put people into a deeper sleep, it is important to have the necessary early warning of a fire to ensure that they wake up.
  
• Be sure that the smoke alarm you buy carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.
  
• If there is fire or smoke, get out immediately and go to the designated meeting place. But if you are trapped by fire or smoke, have your TTY/TTD device or other alerting system close to the bed so that communication with emergency personnel is possible should fire or smoke trap you in your room.
  
• Alarms with a 10-year lithium batteries eliminate the problem of having to change batteries. The batteries are designed to last the life of an alarm. Ten-year battery alarms still need to be tested in accordance with manufacturers' instructions at least once a month. 
  
• Alarms that go off because of burnt toast, steam, or other non-threatening sources can be a nuisance and can discourage people from using smoke alarms. Use alarms with a silencing feature that can be pressed to delay the alarm for a short period time. If the smoke does not clear in a certain amount of time, the alarm will sound again.
  
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside each separate sleeping area. If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install interconnected smoke alarms in each room so when one sounds, they all sound. Install a new battery in all conventional alarms at least once a year. Test your alarm at least once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions. 
   
• Include everyone in your home and make a home escape plan, making provisions for anyone who has a disability. Practice your plan at least twice a year .

For further information, Please contact our Headquarters 352-688-5030