1.Check room doors for heat or smoke. Do not open a hot door. Use an alternate escape route. Close doors behind you as you leave.
2.If smoke is heavy, crawl out, staying close to floor. Take short breaths, if possible, through a wet cloth or hold your breath. More people die from smoke inhalation than from flames.
3.Get out as fast as you can. Do not stop for packing. Have a prearranged meeting place outside for all family members. Check everybody is there.
4.Call the Fire Brigade from a neighbour’s house. Remember to give your name and address.
5.NEVER
Limitations of Smoke / Heat Alarms
Smoke / Heat Alarms have significantly helped to reduce the number of fire fatalities in countries where they are widely installed.
However independent authorities have stated that they may be ineffective in some circumstances. There are a number of reasons for this:
•The Alarms will not work if the mains power is off and the battery is depleted. On the Ei141/144/146 alarms the batteries should be replaced every three years as a precaution or if the unit gives a low battery beep.
•NOTE: Constant exposure to high or low temperatures or high humidity may reduce the life of the Alkaline battery.
•Smoke / Heat Alarms will not detect fire if sufficient smoke / heat does not reach the alarm. Smoke / heat may be prevented from reaching the Alarm if the fire is too far away, for example, if the fire is on another floor, behind a closed door, in a chimney, in a wall cavity, or if the prevailing air draughts carry the smoke / heat away. Installing Smoke / Heat Alarms on both sides of closed doors and installing more than one Smoke / Heat Alarm as recommended in the ‘INSTALLER INSTRUCTIONS’ booklet significantly improves the probability of early detection.
•The Alarm may not be heard.
•A Smoke / Heat Alarm may not wake a person who has taken drugs or alcohol.
9