Smoke alarm technology has reached a new level. In June, Kidde launched a wireless smoke alarm system that uses radio frequency technology to link smoke alarms and accessories into an interconnected system that, like a traditional interconnected systems, when one alarm sounds, all will sound. But unlike traditional systems, the Kidde Wireless System can be installed in nearly any home in America without any major time or labor.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that nearly 82% of all fire fatalities in 2004 occurred in the home, a statistic that has remained steady for the past decade. Two of the NFPA's key initiatives to decrease home fire deaths include increasing the number of working smoke alarms in homes, and addressing the high fire death risks of the very young and old.
Having working smoke alarms dramatically improves your chance of survival because the sooner a family hears a smoke alarm, the more time they have to get out. An interconnected system provides an earlier warning to fire by offering more warning in more places.
"People don't realize that on average a family may only have three minutes or less to evacuate their home after hearing a smoke alarm," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council "That's why it is so important to plan ahead. Interconnected smoke alarms can alert a household to a fire at the earliest stages, giving caregivers more time to get family members to safety."
More than 84 million homes (most built prior to 1993) have only isolated battery- or electric-powered smoke alarms to alert families to possible danger. Traditional interconnected systems are usually installed during a home's construction, because it is time, cost and labor intensive to retrofit an existing home with this advanced fire protection. But smoke alarms equipped with wireless technology, such as the Kidde Wireless System, provide a lower cost alternative for homeowners who want to install interconnected smoke alarms without having to rewire their homes.
The Kidde Wireless System also can be added to an already-established interconnected, hardwired system to enhance a home's level of fire protection. And like all of Kidde's smoke alarms, the wireless smoke alarms are UL-listed.
Who will benefit from this new technology? Everyone, but especially young children and older adults, who face the highest risks of dying in a fire because they often lack the physical strength to get out of a home quickly, or may not wake to the sound of a traditional smoke alarm. Consider these statistics reported by the US Fire Administration:
Studies show that a multi-pronged approach is needed to reach these high-risk populations. One component of Kidde's wireless system is the SmokeSounder. Designed to provide additional warning, the battery-powered, standalone unit is triggered by the system's alarms and may aid in waking children, and older adults.
Homes built after 1993 are required by law to have hardwired smoke alarms that are interconnected, alerting families to smoke in any room of the house that is equipped with a smoke alarm.
Equipped with a loud voice module, the SmokeSounder clearly states, "Danger, Fire! Wake Up! Follow the escape plan!" This announcement is accompanied by a beeping alert set at a frequency that studies have found can be more effective in waking children and adults with high frequency hearing loss [often brought on by aging]. Studies also show that a vocal warning may be more effective at waking children who sleep through a traditional smoke alarm. In addition, the SmokeSounder can be placed in a caregiver's bedroom to provide extra warning so that they may have more time to assist loved ones out of the home.
"Fire safety experts recommend installing smoke alarms in every bedroom and on every level of the home," said Chris Rovenstine, vice-president of marketing for Kidde. "Now anyone can do that easily, and without costly retrofitting. The Kidde Wireless System can protect your whole home no matter what its age."
The suggested retail price for each Kidde wireless alarm and SmokeSounder is around $50-$60. The Kidde Wireless System can be found at Lowe's and other hardware stores. For more information on the Kidde Wireless System, please visit www.kiddewireless.com.