SARASOTA – When it comes to fire prevention, Home Depot Safety Expert Dave White says the power is in our hands.
“You need to have a working smoke detector, at least one on every level of the home,” White said.
He says two thirds of deaths from house fires would be avoided with a working smoke detector.
“A lot of people don’t realize this, but after 10 years, they become less effective,” White said. “Nowadays you’re fortunate because there’s a lot of great new technology; things have really come a long way.”
He says now there’s a 10-year, worry-free, wireless smoke and carbon monoxide detector you can buy for your home. It’s made by Kidde.
“It’s a ten year battery so you’ll never have to change the battery,” White said. “When that battery is done it’s actually gonna tell you it’s time to replace the whole unit. They will speak to you and tell you that.”
You can even connect it to an app to get alerts on your smart phone. Along with technology, White says common sense goes a long way.
“People are using space heaters and cranking up the fire place, and they’re using their furnace more, so have your furnace inspected every year,” White said.
Keep fire extinguishers all around the house, especially this time of year.
“As we go into the Christmas season, we have live trees and a lot of lights and extension cords. Make sure everything is up to date and safe and you don’t see any issues, and you should be good to go,” White said.
White says you can get the Kidde ten-year smoke detector at any Home Depot store.
