Be Alarmed

It is a simple irrefutable fact: smoke and CO alarms save lives. They detect the threat, sound the alarm and give you and your family precious time to escape to safety.

Smoke Alarms

• Install only approved smoke alarms and replace every 10 years.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. If you sleep with the bedroom door closed, consider installing one in each bedroom as well.
• Because smoke rises, install smoke alarms on the ceiling. If that is not possible, install them as high on the wall as possible.
• Avoid certain locations such as near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows or close to ceiling fans.
• Test your smoke alarm monthly using the alarm test button. Following the owner's manual, test your alarm annually using smoke from an incense stick or follow manufacturer's instruction.
• Change the batteries in the spring and fall when you change your clocks.
• Dust can clog a smoke alarm so gently vacuum it with a soft bristle brush every six months.
• Smoke alarms do wear out so if they are 10 years old or more, install new ones.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

• CO alarms should not be installed beside smoke alarms or near fuel burning appliances. When choosing a CO alarm, look for the CSA Blue Flame mark and the reference "CSA 6.19-01" - the most up-to-date Canadian standard. This shows that the alarm meet recognized standards for safety.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms adjacent to the bedrooms in your home or if there are bedrooms on more than one floor in your home then install CO alarms on those floor as well so you can hear the alarm
• CO alarms should be installed as per manufacturer's instructions.
• Follow the same manufacturer's maintenance procedures as you would with smoke alarms.