Do you possess sufficient knowledge of home fire safety to ensure your family’s safety? In recognition of Home Safety Month in June, Kidde has crafted a concise Home Safety Challenge quiz, available online, to assess your familiarity with fire and carbon monoxide (CO) safety. By participating in this quiz and testing your knowledge, you’re assisting me in a competition to win a donation of 150 Worry-Free smoke alarms for my local fire department from Kidde!
Kidde specializes in manufacturing smoke and fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and home solutions designed to shield families from fire and related hazards. Through my collaboration with Kidde over the past two years, I’ve gained valuable insights into straightforward safety measures we can implement to prepare for potential home dangers.
While I won’t reveal all the quiz answers, here are some informative facts about fire and carbon monoxide safety to help safeguard your family:
- WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED, SMOKE ALARMS ARE ONE OF THE BEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE WAYS TO PROVIDE AN EARLY WARNING WHEN A FIRE STARTS.
Smoke alarms play a critical role in saving lives, preventing injuries, and limiting property damage by providing early alerts in the event of a fire. Since various types of smoke alarms are available, Kidde can guide you in understanding the distinctions between photoelectric, ionization, and dual-sensor models, assisting you in selecting the most suitable smoke alarm for your home. - THERE ARE THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY FROM A FIRE:
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
- Place fire extinguishers within easy reach on every level of your home.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms on each floor and near bedrooms.
- PARENTS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEIR KIDS REMEMBER WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A FIRE.
It’s essential to ensure that children know how to dial 9-1-1 during a fire or emergency and are familiar with and practice the home escape plan during the day and at night. Kidde offers helpful resources for parents and teachers, including a downloadable Escape Plan Worksheet and Fire Lesson Plan, to educate children on the importance of knowing what to do in case of a fire. - CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) IS A COLORLESS, ODORLESS, AND TASTELESS GAS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that carbon monoxide poisoning leads to 400 unintentional deaths annually. Initial symptoms resemble the flu, including dizziness, severe headaches, nausea, sleepiness, fatigue/weakness, and disorientation, all without a fever. This fast-acting threat can be fatal within minutes but can be prevented by using a carbon monoxide alarm. - 75% OF ALL HOMES HAVE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE.
These sources may include water heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, generators, or any other fuel-burning appliances. It’s staggering to consider that only half of U.S. homes have a functioning carbon monoxide alarm.
Now that you’re more informed about fire and carbon monoxide safety, participate in Kidde’s Home Safety Challenge to help me secure a donation of fire alarms for my local fire station! The three bloggers whose readers take the quiz between today and Monday, June 30 will each earn Worry-Free smoke alarms for their respective communities!
FOR ADDITIONAL HOME SAFETY RESOURCES, PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINKS FROM KIDDE:
- Kidde’s Simple Steps to Safety page
- SafeKids: Home Safety
- SafeKids: Fire Safety
- National Safety Council: Safety at Home
- USFA: Fire Safety for Parents
- Kidde’s Downloadable Brochures & Safety Checklist
