Get ready for cold weather with Kidde Fire Safety!

As most of us are gearing up for the holidays, we need to also make sure our home is safe. Now is a great time, to make sure those CO alarms are up to date. Take a couple of minutes out of your day to assure your alarms are not passed the expiration date. After all, as the weather turns cold and homes heat up, so does the chance that your family could experience a home fire or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The National Fire Protection Association reports most home fires and CO poisonings occur in winter. Besides heating appliances, seasonal activities such as increased cooking, using candles and decorating Christmas trees all add to the risk.

I was given the below quiz from Kidde CO Alarms to answer and see how I do! I encourage you to take the quiz as well, after you see my answers, to make sure your house is to code on safety!

Home Safety Quiz

 

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, such as Kidde Worry-Free smoke and COalarms, to receive hassle-free protection for a decade –no need to change a battery or hear a low battery chirp. Available nationwide at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart, each alarminstalled will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.

My answer: We got all brand new Kidde CO alarms in the last year. We are all up to date!

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.

My answer: We do have one on every floor. On our lower floor, we have two fire alarms since it is a big space.

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.

My answer: Yes, since we have Kidde alarms, we know they have all the latest features.

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

My answer: This is where I am lacking. We do not have an escape ladder in our house, and we really need one!

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.

My answer: Sadly no but this is going to be changed immediately!

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

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

My answer: YES

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?

My answer: Yes, we are all winter-ready!

For a downloadable winter home project checklist and other information, visit www.worryfreealarm.com.

 

*This is a sponsored post. All my opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.*