NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Fire Marshal Mike Cain reminds us during Fire Prevention Week, it's important to make sure you have enough smoke detectors and that they work.
"We recommend smoke alarms on every level of the house," Cain said. "If you have a basement, one in the basement, the first floor, second floor if you have it, and those should be in the hallway outside of the sleeping areas. And then we really recommend one in each bedroom, but we know that that's not always feasible, so at least one outside in the hallway outside of the bedrooms."
It's important to check them periodically, as well.
"Once you put them up, you have to test them once a month," Cain said. "It's simple, you walk by, there's a button right on the face of it, you push that button, it beeps at you, you know it's still working."
Smoke alarms are only good for 10 years, because the chemical inside them that senses the smoke only has a 10 year half-life.
"All of those alarms now are dated," Cain said. "They have a date stamped on them. If you're looking at your alarm and you don't see a date, it's well over 10 years old now and should be replaced."
If you need new alarms, you can call the fire department to see if they have any left through funding they receive from the American Red Cross. The number is (620) 694-2871.