Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make different sounds to alert you when something is wrong. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds can help you and your family stay safe in your home. During a fire, you may only have seconds to get to a safe location, so it’s important for everyone in your home to know what to do when an alarm sounds.
Beeps and Chirps
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has chosen “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” for the 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme. Making sure that everyone in your home understands the sounds of the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is crucial. Learn the sounds for your specific alarms by checking the user guide or searching the brand and model online.
Smoke Alarms
A continued set of three loud beeps means there is smoke/fire. Get out of the building, call 911, and stay out of the house. If you’re hearing a single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds, the battery is low and needs to be changed. If you continue to hear chirping after the battery has been replaced, the smoke alarm is at the end of its life and must be replaced. Smoke alarms need to be replaced every ten years.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
If you hear a continuous set of four loud beeps, carbon monoxide has been detected. Get outside, call 911, and stay out of the building. As with your smoke alarm, a single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery needs to be replaced. Carbon monoxide alarms also have limited life spans and need to be replaced if chirping continues after you’ve changed the battery.
What if Someone in Your Home Has a Hearing Issue?
If someone in your home has sensory or physical impairments, you can find smoke alarms and devices to alert them to danger. For example, you can install a bedside alert device that responds to the sound of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or use a low-frequency alarm to wake a person with mild to severe hearing loss. Some alarms include strobe lights.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
