Tips: Prevent Carbon Monoxide, Fire Hazards

  • Oct 04, 2007

As the weather cools down and people spend more time indoors, the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning incidents rises. This fall, the Home Safety Council (HSC) is urging families to create a healthy and safe home environment, which includes taking steps to prevent home fire and CO hazards.

Despite the increasing risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning as the weather turns cooler, a new Home Safety Council survey found that most respondents (97 percent) do not consider the fall season as a top time for home injuries. This lack of concern could leave homes and families unprepared should an emergency happen this season.

"With the right tools and a little advance planning, families can prevent a real tragedy," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. "Taking a few simple actions like testing your smoke alarms and replacing alarms that are more than 10 years old can make a big difference in keeping your family safe and healthy throughout the year."

Dropping temperatures are a good reminder to families to conduct a fall home safety walk-through, improving the health of their homes before the winter season truly begins.

The Home Safety Council and offers the following home fire safety checklist to make sure families have the right products and practices in place to safely handle a home fire emergency.

  • Smoke alarms work every minute of every day. Over time, the sensors begin to wear out and reliability of the alarm declines. If your alarms are 10 years old or more -- or if you're not sure how old they are -- don't take a chance. Replace them with new alarms.
  • Purchase smoke alarms that are listed by an independent testing laboratory such as UL, ETL, CSA, etc.
  • At a minimum, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and near every bedroom.
  • Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Follow the manufacturer's instructions or push the "test button" on the face of the alarm cover.
  • Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year. Do this sooner if the alarm makes a regular chirping signal, indicating low battery power.
  • Consider using interconnected smoke alarms. These are available with wireless connection and hard-wired with battery back-up. These alarms are linked together so that if one alarm operates, they all signal at once, giving you precious extra time to get your family members to safety.
  • Make a fire escape plan for your family with two exits out of every room and an outside meeting place.
  • Hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
  • You might need a fire escape ladder to get out of upstairs bedroom windows. If so, they should be stored near the windows and made part of your fire drills. Practice with them from a ground-floor window to prevent injury.
  • If you have a fire in your home, once you get out, stay out. Do not go back inside for any reason. Call the fire department from outside the burning building.
  • Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
  • Consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed in your new home or when you remodel.

Carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly gas that is produced by fuel- burning heating equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces and kerosene heaters. It is commonly known as "the silent killer" because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Follow these CO safety tips to improve the health of your home.

  • Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping areas.
  • Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up your home's central heating system and repair leaks or other problems; fireplaces and woodstoves should also be inspected each year and cleaned or repaired as needed.
  • Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
  • Never use an oven or range to heat your home.
  • Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed garage.
  • Portable electric generators must be used outside only. Never use them indoors, in a garage or in any confined area that can allow carbon monoxide to collect. Follow usage directions closely.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.