AURORA, Ill., August 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As many
American homes have transformed into makeshift offices, gyms and
classrooms, and health concerns are top-of-mind, fire safety has
also become a priority. According to a recent study, 91% of
consumers considered home fires a top concern during the initial
months of the pandemic.*
Along with adopting new routines, many Americans tackled a
variety of home improvement and home safety projects. More than
two-thirds (68%) of Americans reported taking additional home
safety measures this year, including testing smoke alarms or buying
home monitoring devices.
"When people start painting projects, lighting installation and
other types of home improvements, it's an ideal time to check or
update smoke and carbon monoxide alarms," said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing for First
Alert, the most trusted name in fire safety.** "It is important to
test alarms regularly, but people sometimes forget how old their
alarms are and that they do not last forever. Alarms must be
replaced at least every 10 years."
With more regular activity in and around the home this summer,
the risk of hazardous home incidents, such as home fires and carbon
monoxide (CO) poisoning, may also increase. In the past several
months, people report using their kitchens in greater numbers, with
47% of consumers reporting cooking from home every day, compared
with 23% prior to the pandemic.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires in
the United States, accounting for
62% of residential fire incidents each year.*** And, CO poisoning
remains the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths each year,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fortunately, research shows that while Americans focused on
keeping their families safe and healthy, they also became more
actively engaged in fire and CO safety readiness.
"Staying home and cooking more have greatly contributed to
consumers' attention to fire and carbon monoxide safety this year,"
said Wey. "We have been extremely encouraged by the number of
people taking additional safety measures at home and putting
products and practices in place to help protect themselves and
their families."
With proper planning and ongoing, regular maintenance of smoke
and CO alarms, people can increase their level of home safety.
Alongside fire safety experts, First Alert recommends these easy
steps to be ready if a fire or CO incident occurs in your home:
- Install alarms throughout the home. According to NFPA
guidelines, smoke alarms should be installed on each level of the
home, including the basement, and in every bedroom, and CO alarms
should be on every level of the home and near each sleeping
area.
- Check the manufacture date on your alarms. Alarms do not
last forever and must be replaced at least every 10 years,
regardless of their manufacturer. If alarms are due for
replacement, consider upgrading your level of protection to premium
10-year sealed battery alarms. Ten-year alarms eliminate
low-battery chirps and the need for battery replacements for a
decade. For ultimate home safety, select combination smoke and CO
models for complete protection from the threats of smoke, fire and
CO. A variety of smoke and CO alarms, including hardwired,
combination, dual sensor and 10-year battery-powered models, are
available to meet specific needs and local requirements.
- Test alarms regularly. Regardless of the type of alarms
you have installed, all smoke and CO alarms should be regularly
tested. First Alert alarms are equipped with a test button to make
this easy. Never test alarms with an open flame or by simulating a
fire or CO emergency.
- Develop – and frequently practice – an escape plan with your
family. Identify two ways out of each room, including windows
and doors, and make sure everyone in the home understands the plan.
In the event of an emergency, it is important to exit the home,
stay outside and wait at the predesignated meeting place away from
the home. Call 911 and wait until officials clear your home to
re-enter it safely.
- Equip second floor sleeping areas with escape
ladders. Also, equip every floor with a fire extinguisher, and
discuss how to use them. Fire extinguishers should be kept where
they are easily reachable and in key rooms where there is a higher
risk for fires, such as the kitchen and garage.
"Working smoke and CO alarms are the first line of defense in
our collective efforts to protect what matters most this summer and
all year round," said Wey.
For more information and to access your own readiness resources,
visit www.firstalert.com/beready.
*First Alert COVID-19 Consumer Insights, April 2020 – Results are based on the responses
of 1,000 adults, ages 25 and older, living in the United States who completed an online
survey. Results are statistically significant at a 95 percent
confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult
population in the United States
within those statistical parameters.
**First Alert Brand Trust Survey, February 2020 – Results are based on the
responses of 1,000 adults, ages 25 and older, living in
the United States who completed an
online survey. Results are statistically significant at a 95
percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult
population in the United States
within those statistical parameters. For more information or a copy
of the complete survey results, contact Tim
Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or
tyoung@lcwa.com.
***National Fire Protection Association;
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes
About BRK Brands, Inc.
BRK Brands, Inc.
(Aurora, IL), is a fully owned
subsidiary of Newell Brands. For
more than 60 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of
First Alert®-branded home-safety products, the most
trusted and recognized safety brand in America. BRK®
Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including a
comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire
extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters
most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK
Electronics® brand, The Professional Standard for the
builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products
are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more
information, visit
http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com or
http://www.newellbrands.com.
About Newell
Brands
Newell
Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods
company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including
Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer's®, Coleman®,
Marmot®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid
Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®,
Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Mapa®, Spontex® and Yankee
Candle®. For hundreds of millions of consumers, Newell Brands makes life better every day, where
they live, learn, work and play.
Additional information about Newell
Brands is available on the company's website,
www.newellbrands.com.
©2020 BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora,
IL 60504. All rights reserved.
BRK Electronics® is a registered trademark of BRK
Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL
60504.
Nasdaq® is a registered trademark of The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc.
Contacts: Sara Tatay or
Claire Vartabedian
L.C. Williams & Associates
P: 312-565-3900 or 800-837-7123
statay@lcwa.com or cvartabedian@lcwa.com
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SOURCE First Alert