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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE YOU UP TO DATE WITH HOME FIRE PROTECTION? Today, home fire protection is more affordable and more reliable than ever before. Quality smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and portable fire extinguishers are inexpensive and can save your life. It is the law in the State of Wisconsin, that homes have at least one working smoke detector. The law requires that there be at least one detector on every living level of the home. In most homes this means at least 2 or 3 smoke detectors are required. If your detectors are not powered by your homes electrical system then they probably operate on batteries. It is recommended that the smoke detector battery be changed once a year and that the unit be cleaned, by lightly dusting or vacuuming it. Smoke detectors also wear out and should be replaced after 10 years of service. The South Milwaukee Fire Department also recommends that every household have at least one carbon monoxide detector. We suggest buying only detectors that are UL listed and display a Blue Star seal authorized by the American Gas Association. These CO detectors feature a digital readout showing parts per million, (PPM of CO) and plug into your homes electrical outlets. The fire department has found that most false alarms of carbon monoxide detectors are caused by battery and sensor failures by (DC powered) CO detectors. For this reason the department recommends buying electric (AC powered) CO detectors. Now more than ever carbon monoxide detectors are reliable, affordable and can be as important to home safety as smoke detectors. Do you know what the acronym P.A.S.S. stands for? Are your portable extinguishers ABC rated? P.A.S.S. Identifies the operational technique of Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep, for portable fire extinguishers. An ABC extinguisher is a multi purpose extinguisher recommended for home use. It is a good idea to have a portable extinguisher near the primary exits of your home. Portable extinguishers are to be used on small fires, usually no larger than a small trash can fire and only after the fire department has been called and the occupants have started exiting the building. The South Milwaukee Fire Department provides portable fire extinguisher training for groups and businesses in our community and has an extinguisher information sheet available to the public. Is your Home Fire Protection, ready for the next millennium? For more information on SMOKE DETECTORS, CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS and PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHES, please visit the fire department or call us at 768-8191. South Milwaukee Fire Department |
