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Check your home to see if safety equipment is in good working order. Regularly check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and be prepared for emergency situations.

If you plan to grow older in your own home, be sure it remains a safe place to live. Here are some tips for keeping your home safe.

• Install and check smoke alarms
  • Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside each sleeping area.
  • Inspect them regularly to make sure they work properly.
  • Test battery-operated smoke detectors monthly; replace batteries at least once a year. (Many people use Daylight Savings Time as a reminder to change their batteries).
  • Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

Did You Know?
Research reveals a strong link between working smoke alarms and fewer fatalities from residential fires.

• Don’t forget about carbon monoxide detectors
  • Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that you can’t see or smell, which can be harmful if you are exposed to it.
  • CO detectors should be placed in the hallway near every sleeping area and on each level of your home.
  • Test CO detector batteries twice a year and replace the entire unit every seven years.
  • If your CO detector alarm sounds, get out of the building and call your fire department. Stand outside until fire fighters arrive.
• Keep fire extinguishers in the house
  Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage, and workshop. Know how to operate them and check them regularly to ensure they are in working order.
• Be prepared for an emergency
  Be prepared if the power goes out, water pipes freeze, or an earthquake strikes. Have a flashlight, batteries, lots of water, food, and a hand-crank radio at home.  Identify a family member or friend who can be contacted to let them know that you are safe or need help.
• Plan an emergency escape route
  Have an emergency plan and communicate it in advance to your loved ones to save time and avoid panic in emergencies. Don’t forget to add important medications and spare glasses to your emergency Grab and Go Kit.

Did You Know?
The federal government offers a handy home-safety checklist.