Acting inspector Neil Dover says smoke detectors need their batteries changed at least once a year. Pic: Jessica Huxley
GOLD Coast fire fighters are urging residents to change the battery in their smoke detectors to avoid being a fool this April Fool's Day.Acting inspector Neil Dover said in-home smoke detectors need their batteries changed at least once a year.
"Detectors with 12-vault batteries should be changed yearly and April Fools Day is a great day to remember to do it, especially heading into the winter months when more electronics are used in the home," Mr Dover said.
"Detectors and batteries should also be tested regularly using the test button to sound the alarm.
"The smoke detectors themselves have a lifespan of about 10 years before they should also be replaced."
Mr Dover said last year there were 210 residential structural fires on the coast and numerous occasions where whole families had been saved due to smoke detectors.
"They're designed to wake people and notify people as our sense of smell is altered when we're in an unconscious state," he said.
"I can remember an instance where a whole family had evacuated from their burning home at night and been waiting on the footpath for us to arrive.
"Working smoke alarms really do save lives."
Mr Dover said photoelectric smoke alarms were the best option as they sense fire in an earlier stage than previous models.
"These detectors are different in the way they work, using ionisation to detect smoke earlier," he said.
"Detectors can be bought for as little as $15 and take less than 5 minutes to change."
No comments:
Post a Comment