Smoke detectors cut risk of death by house fite in half

Bill Wilson

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 | 3:47 p.m.

More than half of all fatal home fires happen at night, when people are in bed asleep.

It may surprise you to learn that the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. The poisonous gasses and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put you into a deeper sleep.

Inexpensive home smoke detectors sound an alarm, alerting you to fire. By giving you time to escape, smoke detectors can cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Smoke detectors save so many lives that most states have laws requiring them in private homes.

To get the maximum protection from your detector you'll need to install at least one on every level of your house, including basements. Be sure everyone in your home can hear your smoke detector alarms, even with bedroom doors closed.

Remember: A smoke detector that's not working can't protect you. Tragically, many fire deaths happen in homes where the smoke detectors' batteries are worn out or missing.

To remedy this, test your smoke detectors every month.

Also, the Boulder City Fire Department suggests you change your batteries once a year at the fall time change.

The Boulder City Fire Department will take its smoke detector program to the streets of Boulder City in November. We will be targeting high-risk neighborhoods throughout town and going door to door checking people's smoke detectors.

If you would like us to come check your detector or are in need of one, call the Boulder City Fire Department at 293-9228.