Column: Take time to protect your family

Here is a little quiz for you:
Smoke alarm.Smoke alarm.
Smoke alarm.

Smoke alarms give vital early warning of a fire. TRUE/FALSE

Smoke alarms can be purchased for as little as £5. TRUE/FALSE

You are over four times more likely to survive a fire if you have a working smoke alarm. TRUE/FALSE

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You should never disconnect or remove the batteries from your smoke alarm. TRUE/FALSE

How time flies – it doesn’t seem two minutes since we were rolling the clocks backand getting ready for long winter nights – fast forward and here we are, about to roll the clocks forward and gain an extra hour of daylight. Oh what we can fit into that extra hour; time to mow the lawn after work, go for a walk or just sitwith a glass of something nice in the garden, unwinding after a long day at work.

There’s another way you can gain extra time – time to escape a fire in your home, time to get you and your family to safety and time to call 999. Fitting and testing smoke alarms!

Quite simply smoke alarms are the unsung heroes of safety - on alert 24/7 to give you vital early warning of a fire, giving you those vital seconds to get out, stay out and call 999. But they can only do that if they are actually fitted into your home, and if they are working. So it’s time to remind you of the importance of ensuring you have smoke alarms fitted into your home, and time to remind you to test them. weekly.

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Did you know you are over four times more likely to survive a fire if you have a working smoke alarm? You can purchase smoke alarms from any DIY store for as little as £5 and they are simple and easy to fit.

As a minimum fit smoke alarms on every level of your home.

For additional protection, it is strongly recommended that smoke alarms are fitted within other rooms such as bedrooms, your lounge and dining rooms.

The ideal position is on the ceiling in the middle of a room, or in the hallway and landing so you can hear the alarm throughout your home.

Don’t put alarms in or near kitchens or bathrooms, where smoke or steam can set them off by accident.

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Never disconnect or take the batteries out of your alarm if it goes off by mistake.

Stay safe.

Standard battery operated alarms are the cheapest option, but the batteries need to be replaced every year.

An alarm with ten-year batteries in the best option.

Main powered alarms are powered by your home power supply. Generally they don’t need replaceable batteries, but need to be installed by a qualified electrician.

You can even have linked alarms installed, so that when one alarm detects a fire they all go off together. This is useful if you live in a large house or over several levels.

If your smoke alarm starts to beep on a regular basis, you need to replace the battery immediately.

You can access further information about staying safe online at www.derbys-fire.gov.uk