You should have working smoke alarms fitted on every level of your home.
Smoke alarms give you vital time to ‘get out, stay out and call 999’ if ever you’re unlucky enough to have a fire.
And it’s crucial that you test them regularly – we advise once a week. Follow us on Twitter for our #TestitTuesday reminders.
A smoke alarm with the batteries missing is useless. If you must take the battery out, make sure you replace it there and then.
Every six months you should open the alarm case and gently vacuum inside to remove dust from the sensor. If the smoke alarm doesn’t open, vacuum through the holes.
Change the battery every year (unless it’s a ten-year alarm) or when you need to. Alarms give out an intermittent bleep to let you know the battery’s running low.
No matter the size of your home, if you can only heat one room, it is essential that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in that room so you will hear them while sleeping.
You can take a free online safety check which will help you identify any risks. Visit https://www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc/ to do it online today. Alternatively, for the most vulnerable, you can apply for a Safe and Well visit from us. During the visit, our local firefighters will give you safety advice on a range of areas such as fire and personal safety as well as fitting smoke detectors free where they’re needed.
#TestItTuesday
Follow us on Twitter for our weekly reminders to test your smoke alarm!