Home Safety with Kidde Alarms

One of my passions is home safety. I have an overactive brain and I always think about the worst possible scenarios. I do everything I can to make sure we are well taken care of with smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide alarms.

It’s kind of scary that only half of homes in the U.S. have working carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide was one of the first things I thought of when we moved into Memaw’s house.

I’m so happy to have a Kidde CO alarm that has been proven to last 10 years, so I don’t have to worry about replacing batteries every few months. Whew! And there’s no chirping. There is nothing more annoying than a chirpy alarm.

My favorite smoke alarm is this Worry-Free alarm by Kidde. It has a 10 year battery in it, so I don’t have to remember to replace the batteries in it either. Anything that makes a parent’s job easier rocks my world! 🙂

I took the Home Safety quiz below and scored decently well. Our alarms are all new thanks to us moving like nomads over the last few years.  We have fire extinguishers at the ready if needed. We haven’t come up with an escape plan since we just moved, but it is definitely something I’ve been thinking a lot about.

I need to teach Ridley our new address and I haven’t emphasized calling 9-1-1 just yet. He does know the numbers, so it’s a good start.

Home Safety Quiz

1. One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment. How old are your alarms?

• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Replace CO alarms every five to 10 years, based on the model.
• Purchase an alarm with a 10-year sealed lithium battery {like Kidde’s} that are available at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart. Each alarm installed will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.

2.  Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have one on every floor, and inside/outside all bedrooms?

• Choose alarms with room-specific features, such as an LED light in the hallway, or a voice notification for the bedroom.
• Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor. Keep them 10 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.

3. Do your alarms incorporate the newest features and technology?

• A sealed-in 10-year lithium battery continuously powers the alarm for 10 years.  It’s tamper-proof and can’t be removed.
• A digital display shows the level of CO in the air and updates the reading every 15 seconds.
• An intelligent multi-sensor responds faster to real fires and CO, plus it reduces nuisance alarms like those commonly caused by cooking.
• An end-of-life warning lets you know when to replace your alarms.

4. Do you need other safety products?

• Fire extinguisher – place one within reach in rooms where fires often begin: kitchen, garage, bedroom, living area
• Escape ladder – place in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route

5. Have you developed a family escape plan?

• Practice it regularly. Know two ways out of every room and who will assist children and loved ones with mobility/health issues.

6. Do your children know their address and how to dial 911?

• Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.

7. Are your appliances and chimney winter-ready?

• Have a professional inspect fuel-burning appliances to ensure they function properly and that they vent outside.
• Have a professional clean or inspect fireplaces annually. Birds and small animals can make nests and leaves can build up on top of the chimney, preventing carbon monoxide from venting properly.
• Have you created a 3-foot clutter free zone around fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves?

Take the quiz and let me know how you prepare your home for good safety!

You can find Kidde smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms at The Home Depot and Walmart! Take precautionary measures to keep your family safe this Winter!

xoxo

Myra

This post was sponsored by Kidde. As always all opinions are 100% mine. 🙂