How Many Smoke Alarms Do I Need in My Home?

Video Transcript

"It's important that you have--if you have a multistory home--it's important that you have fire alarms on every level. It's suggested that you have fire alarms outside of bedroom doors to make sure that you know if you're asleep... seems like most fires start at night, and it's important if you're asleep that you're able to be woken up. I know the county and the city fire departments both have programs where they assist folks who are either elderly or just can't install them themselves, they're glad to do that kind of service for those folks. The fire guys stress that you have a home fire evacuation plan, that you have a pre-designated plan for fire emergencies. In the middle of the night if your fire alarm goes off and everyone knows to get out of the house and knows that they need to assemble at a certain place so that they can all be accounted for... just making sure that everyone is aware of that kind of information. If you've got fire alarms in your home, making sure that the batteries are changed regularly, making sure that you don't disconnect because they go off when you're cooking, you know. You need to change your cooking habits. Or, making sure if you live in a home that only has fire alarms that are powered by electricity that you consider purchasing a backup one that's battery-powered to make sure that you never lose that capability."