In light of the deadly fire in Lancaster which killed 7 people, firefighters are now urging you to make sure your home has working smoke detectors.
A few simple tips could save your life.
Firefighters say this sound..
“Beep Beep Beep”
Is the difference between life and death.
“The only way you’re going to survive a fire is with a working smoke detector,” says Dr. Duane Hagelgans, an assistant professor at Millersville and retired firefighter.
Duane Hagelgans and his volunteer fire department say they’ll give you a smoke detector for free, they’ll even come to your home and install it for you.
“You want at minimum like 6 to 12 inches out or down,” says Hagelgans, as he demonstrates how to install a fire detector.
They say the gases that can burn in your home are more deadly than the actual fire.
A smoke detector will wake you up before the gases kill you in your sleep.
“When that burns it puts off deadly gases, for instance when nylon burns it puts off cyanide gases, cyanide gases are used in a gas chamber, you can see why this is very bad to breathe,” says Hagelgans.
Hagelgans says it’s best to not only have multiple detectors in your home but to sleep with your bedroom door shut, because a closed door could save your life.
“Test the door if it’s hot you never open it,” says Hagelgans.
He says usually if a door is shut, the entire room and whoever’s inside can be spared…the other side of the door is a different story.
Fresh batteries mean a working fire alarm.
A common rule is to replace your batteries every spring and fall when you change your clocks.
“Second button here, you just push,” demonstrates a firefighter.
It can save your life as well as those who put their lives on the line for you.
Hagelgans says an alarm could’ve spared 7 people in Lancaster this week.
“If there would’ve been working smoke detectors there would have not been a fatality nor would there be injuries to the firefighters,” says Hagelgans.