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January Product Of The Month

LIFE SAFETY

As the month of January comes to an end we are excited to be to be talking about life safety as our product of the month. More fires happen in the winter months than any other time of the year. During the cold months, we spend more time indoors and use different methods to heat our homes. There’s nothing better than that cozy feeling that our heaters provide us with when the weather is cold and harsh. As we chase away the chill in our homes with our heating systems, let’s not forget the risks involved. Heating equipment is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes. These homes include one and two-family homes and apartments. Nearly half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February. Thirty years ago, a family living in a home that caught fire had about 15 to 17 minutes to escape unharmed. Today, that number has dropped to a harrowing three to four minutes. Read on to learn why and how you can prepare your house for fire safety during the holiday season and beyond.

Be Prepared

Home fires move faster today. Two major culprits: modern, cheaply made furniture and synthetic fabric coverings. As wood furniture and natural linens are replaced with particle board and polyester, house fires spread faster. Synthetic fibers burn hotter and faster than natural fibers. Our window of safety has decreased due to what our homes are made of and what we have inside them. That is why having a Safety Checklist for our homes is so important. If you haven’t done a fire-safety check in your home, now is the time!

Smoke Alarms

Most importantly, make sure all of the smoke alarms in your home are working, and don’t forget to change those batteries once a year. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area, outside every sleeping area and on each floor. If you haven’t already tested your smoke alarms, now is the time to do it. Simply press the test button to ensure that both the alarm and battery are working and, if it has a power light, check this is constantly on. If you rent your property, it is your responsibility to replace smoke alarm batteries. Fire and Rescue and some local councils offer a battery replacement service for those with a disability or people aged over 65. All hard-wired smoke alarms must only be replaced by a licensed electrical contractor. Schedule regular maintenance and test your alarms once a month and clean them with a vacuum cleaner every six months to remove any dust particles that might prevent it from working or cause it to trigger a false alarm.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are also important as they will sense the colorless and odorless carbon monoxide gas which is often fatal and can be a source of combustion. Due to being odorless Carbon Monoxide is known as the silent killer. It can cause sudden illness and even death when not monitored. Carbon monoxide is produced from any combustible fume source. That could be a gas furnace, gas range or it could be a generator or camp stove. Anything that produces combustible fumes is a source of carbon monoxide poisoning. In the winter where we tend to be in closed environments and many of these devices are used inside, we’re at greater risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide has very similar symptoms to the flu. You might get headache, you might get dizzy, nausea, maybe even vomiting and you might think you’ve got the flu.

You should have a CO alarm on every floor of your home and near sleeping areas. There are a few steps you can take to ensure these alarms are protecting you and your family. Test all your CO alarms to make sure they’re working properly. Push the Test/Reset button, which causes the alarm to go through a series of test numbers, beginning with “888” and ending with “0.” Ensure that your CO alarms are not in their “end of life” phase. If your CO alarms were made before 2013, they have a seven-year lifespan. If they were made in 2013 or later, they have a ten-year lifespan. To determine if your alarm is at the end of its life, here’s what to watch for: If the alarm has a digital display, it will show ERR or END The alarm will beep every 30 seconds Replacing the battery will not stop this beep.

Protecting your loved ones and the home you live in can be a daunting thought. Many elements have to be taken into consideration when talking about life safety. Like most parts of home security we tend to become aware of potential dangers after a scare or even worse damage to our homes or somebody you know. By using a security checklist and actively maintaining your life safety, you can mitigate any situation that may arise. We preach having a proactive approach whether it’s security equipment or life safety, because we can’t afford to wait for something to happen and neither can you.

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Please complete and submit the form below to place a service request. For after hours emergency service please call 1-800-244-5916.