Okay, I just got a forward from my Family Readiness Group that had me shaking and crying. People who know me know that I NEVER send forwards, the chain letter stops with me. (Sorry if you love those things, I just can’t stand them!)
But this could save a child’s life. The bottom-line: children sleep through normal smoke alarms. There are voice-alarms out there for ~$40 which will actually wake them.
If I had any gumption I would’ve posted in the main forum, OT be darned.
Don’t believe me? WATCH THE VIDEO. The WHDH link to the story has a tiny video link at the top of it.
I was horrified to see the 12 year old sleep for TWO MINUTES through the alarm. And she babysits her younger siblings!
Especially during the holiday season, since we have lights on the tree and candles burning, fire danger is greatly increased.
http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/hank/A94/
SEND THIS LINK TO ALL YOUR LOVED ONES.
[INDENT](from an FRG email)
For some reason, children (and some adults!) are especially prone to
sleeping through traditional fire alarms. The attached news video
describes this hazard and at least one solution to address it.
(See attached file: Children_FireAlarms.wmv)
Fire Survival Plan (Sources: Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office;
Underwriter’s Laboratories):
Have a working (routinely check/change batteries to ensure) smoke
detector within 15-feet of all sleeping areas.
Have, and practice, a family plan to get out alive.
Have a designated meeting place outside the home.
Make sure children understand it’s O.K. to leave house in middle of
night if smoke alarm goes off. Firefighters find children hiding
under
beds and in closets.
To find out if your kids are likely to sleep through an activated
smoke
alarm, test it one night after the kids have gone to sleep.
Additional websites on this topic:
http://www.poynter.org/dg.lts/id.2/aid.67649/column.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/13417/can_your_smoke_alarm_wake
_you_and_the.html
2 Vocal Smoke Alarm Sources (~$40 each):
http://www.smarthome.com/7563.html?src=WG1003629 (Vocal Smoke Alarm Item
#7563)
Kidde Battery-operated Voice-alert Co and Smoke Alarm - Model KN-COSM-B
(can be found at Home Depot stores ++?)
[/INDENT]