Smoke Alarm Advice

Two in three people who died in domestic fires had a smoke alarm.....
.....but it didn't work! Help us to help you stay safe.

Working Smoke alarms save lives. They cost around £5 and are easily fitted. They are widely available from DIY, hardware and electrical shops and some supermarkets.

Everyone can benefit from properly fitted and maintained smoke alarms. They can give you valuable seconds in which to escape from a fire at home. They can literally mean the difference between life and death. Have at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home. These need to be in the hallways as they are your escape routes.

Smoke alarms are available that have been adapted to suit the needs of people with a hearing impairment. For more information, contact the Community Safety Team via email at fire@glosfire.gov.uk or telephone 01452 888777.

Whether your smoke alarms are mains or battery powered; for them to look after you, you have to look after them:

• Test your smoke alarms every week by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. If it doesn't sound, check the battery or replace the alarm.
• Clean your smoke alarms every six months to remove any dust and fluff from the detector.
• Change your batteries every year on a date that you can remember easily, like your birthday. Or fit smoke alarms with a 10 year battery in them.
• Change your smoke alarms every 10 years. Like most electrical goods they can stop working at some point, it is better to change them before they stop working

If you would like smoke alarms fitted in your home but you cannot do the work yourself, a free service exists which will install them for you. Please call 0800 180 41 40 to arrange your FREE 'Safe and Well' visit. Our staff will also install FREE smoke alarms where necessary. If you don't think you require this service consider if you know anyone who would. Let them know about this important service particularly if they have anyone in their homes that are very young or elderly.

Check your smoke alarm every week. Push the button, not your luck!

Why not set up a reminder to test your smoke alarm?

Visit this website www.safelincs.co.uk/reminders to set up a reminder by email, text or twitter to test your smoke alarm