Smoke alarms are a tool that should be part of your family's fire safety plan. The United States Fire Administration states that "statistics point to a 50 percent reduction in fire fatalities since the introduction of smoke alarms into the home." Children should be educated about fire safety and your family should have a fire escape plan in place in the event your house catches on fire. The plan should take into account the ages and needs of your children.
History
Smoke alarm technology is based on the concept, discovered in the 1930's, that electricity can't pass through smoky air. The original smoke detectors set off an alarm when smoke was present in a chamber. Today, smoke detector alarms are set off when an electrical current or beam of light is cut by smoke in the air.
Smoke Alarm Placement
To ensure your children's safety is maximized in the event of a fire in your home, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends "there should be at least on smoke alarm on every level of your house." The most important location for smoke alarms is near or in all bedrooms, so that sleeping children will be awakened by the alarm as quickly as possible.
Sleeping Children and Smoke Alarms
Recent studies have shown that sleeping children may not wake up upon hearing conventional smoke alarm sounds alone. A study published in "Pediatrics," the official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, by Gary A. Smith, M.D., Mark Splaingard M.D., John R. Hayes, PhD and Huiyun Xiang, M.D., PhD, concluded that while an alarm consisting of a mother's voice woke most children from sleep, a conventional tone alarm woke less than half of sleeping children. The results of this study indicate the need to not rely solely on smoke alarms to wake your children in an emergency.
Fire Escape Planning
Your family should have a fire escape plan in place. The plan should be practiced at least twice a year and children should be involved in the planning and practicing. It is a good idea to have a fire escape practice during the night, and have your alarms go off. This way, you can see whether your children are likely to wake up to the alarms. Whether or not your children wake when a smoke alarm goes off, it is important to plan in case they do not. Any escape plan should include making sure all family members are awake and able to follow the plan.
Children Home Alone
As part of your family's fire plan, older children, who may be old enough to be home on their own, should be taught what to do if the smoke alarms activate and they are home alone. Children should be taught the safest routes out of the house and be given neighborhood contacts, where they can go and call 911.
References
- U.S. Fire Administration: Children and Smoke Alarms
- U.S. Product Safety Commission: Test All Smoke Alarms (Detectors) and Annually Replace Batteries Develop and Rehearse an Escape Plan
- Pediatrics: Comparison of a Personalized Parent Voice Smoke Alarm With a Conventional Residential Tone Smoke Alarm for Awakening Children
