Why is it important to have a smoke alarm?

Answer 1

Smoke alarms "save lives" by providing an audible and sometimes visual indication that smoke has been detected. If someone were to remain unaware of the smoke, it could allow a fire to grow and spread dangerously.

Smoke alarms are designed to be loud enough to wake up a sleeping person who might otherwise perish due to smoke inhalation or becoming trapped by fire.

Smoke alarms provide an additional level of safety that can work as one element in a life safety plan. Like any other alarm, if there is nobody to respond to it, the value is questionable, but if someone CAN respond and get to safety, then it is worth having.

Answer 2

A smoke alarm will usually alert you to a fire in a building before flames are visible and even before smoke - usually the first sign of a building fire - might be noticed. This is particularly important in situations where people sleep in the building; it could be too late, without an alarm, for escape by the time sleepers detect a fire building up.

What kills in a home fire usually isn't the flames, but the smoke. And the scary thing is that if you're asleep the fumes are likely to knock you out long before the flames have become dangerous. With a smoke alarm, you have an excellent chance of saving yourself in the event of a home fire.

Even with a smoke alarm it's very important to observe basic safety procedures in case of, and during, a fire.

If your home has security windows or doors, or simply doors which lock with a key, it's vital to always keep the key on the same hook next to the door. Never get in the habit of coming home, locking the door and throwing the keys on a table somewhere. By the time your home, for example, is filling with smoke the power will probably be off and in any case, the smoke alone will disorient you.

Whatever you might think, you will not be able to locate casually dropped keys in this situation. You'll very likely have trouble simply finding your way to an exit, even in the smallest home.

Which brings you to the other important emergency procedure relating to fires: always have an escape route planned and be sure your family is familiar with this route. This involves working out what landmarks to feel for while keeping low - smoke is worse higher up - to guide you to the closest exit from main points indoors.

Your local fire department has literature on emergency plans and procedures and everyone should take advantage of their expertise in order to be sure they and others have the best possible chance of survival in the case of fire.

Their literature will include basic home safety precautions, such as proper installation and positioning of electrical equipment - many fires are caused by electrical goods such as television sets being boxed-in too close to walls and cabinet interiors, causing them to overheat, possibly dangerously so.

It takes only a short time to become familiar with fire and other safety procedure, and that small amount of effort could save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Answer 3

Smoke alarms can save lives by giving an early warning of a fire situation, allowing occupants of a building (or ship or airplane) to take immediate action for safety.

However, this will only happen if the smoke alarm is there, is properly installed, has a power source (battery or AC or both), has not been covered up by anything, is loud enough to be heard by the building occupants, and the occupants have been properly trained in what to do when they hear (or see) the alarm going off.

Answer 4

it senses smoke and makes a loud sound to wake you up. Many places mandate that homes have smoke detectors.