A Sexier Smoke Detector

I'm serious about fire safety and what's fabulous about our condo is that they share my concern and make everyone test the smoke detectors in their townhouses annually.  Unfortunately, smoke detectors generally aren't easy on the eyes.  Ours in particular, although not even old, are bulky, beige and strictly un-paintable, so when I received an offer from First Alert to try out a slim new model, I jumped at the chance!

(I can't show you an "after" photo from the same angle right now because the doorway to my office is packed knee high with student mid-terms, projects, piles of books and three purses.  It's a scary greeting each morning).

The model we received is the new First Alert Designer Series 2 in 1 speaking alarm in white (yay!), which is slim and low profile.  Hubs and I have systematically gone through and replaced every 1970s light fixture (even the ceiling fans!) in the townhouse with fresh new fixtures, but it's been so disheartening to install them beside the sad smoke detectors that were already there.  The smoke detectors were strategically placed, so it was safest to keep them there, but jeez, were they ugly! 

The new smoke detector (which you can find at Lowe's and other home improvement stores), in addition to disappearing nicely into the ceiling (it's less than half the size of the old one), is also a lot more technologically advanced than our old unit.  First Alert has a Patented Smoke Entry system which provides a direct path to the sensor based on the way smoke travels, which means it's more sensitive to smoke but, here's the best part, it results in fewer false alarms!  Plus it detects Carbon Monoxide as an added safety bonus.  Steam from our shower used to set off our old alarm, but we've had none of those false alarms in the two weeks or so we've been testing this smoke detector. We also like that in can be programmed so that a voice tells you where the fire/smoke is, what the hazard is, or whether the battery just needs to be changed (instead of chirping maniacally for shower steam, battery change and fire interchangeably).  There's a video that highlights all of the features, you can see it here.

Although I've hated our smoke detectors and complained before, I was lazy about changing them (especially because it was really an aesthetic thing and they work just fine), but learning about how much safer this new model is makes its slimmer look icing on the cake.  It's definitely townhouse-approved.  But now I want a few more . . . 

I was provided this unit for review from First Alert, but was not asked, encouraged or paid to write a positive review.

Fire Safety Week Wrap Up - What Did I Do?

This week was fire-focused, on account of the fire across the street.  I blogged about go-bags, escape routes, & smoke detectors, plus how to prevent fire in the first place.  Definitely not an exhaustive account, but a good start. 

So the question is: did I take action to be more firesafe (& fire prepared) this week?  Well, between listening to She & Him repeatedly . . .

. . . continuing to admire the green chair . . .

. . . working on my exams, of course . . .

. . . and also deciding if I want to keep these washcloths I bought at Winner's . . .

9 for $8.00?  Yes please.
P.S. The blue is more teal in the real world

. . . I did start my go bag!  Well, I started a pile of stuff that will go in it.  Man, if I ever need this bag, I will be the shabbiest looking person around (I packed sweats and sweatshirts that are warm but ugly).  Bonus points for starting to put out some stuff for hubby's go bag too!

Laying out stuff for the go-bag

And I also:

• Started photocopying important docs and identification (using my super giant ugly printer/copier in one)
• Set off the smoke detectors accidentally (again) so I know they work!
• Started an inventory of the home contents

I need to:

• Finish the go bag
• Finish inventory
• Have a chat with our insurance company
• Stop leaving the dishwasher running at night or when I'm not home
• Start making lint elephants

How about you?

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Fire Safety Week: Protecting Your Assets

A fire escape route, smoke detector, and even a "go bag" can help save your life in the event of a fire.  But what about your stuff?  The furniture you saved up for?  The heirloom jewellery you inherited?  Here are some things your insurance company will really want you to do:

1. Take photos of your rooms and store the photos elsewhere (a safety deposit box, friend's house)
2. Inventory your goods (try sorting by categories: furniture, clothing, tech stuff, etc.)
3. Record the value of as many items as you can - especially big ticket items
4. Bonus points if you attach copies of receipts & record serial numbers
5. Make a note of when you bought things and highlight newer items as insurance companies sometimes take depreciation into account
6. Have your extra valuable valuables appraised
7. Don't forget to keep all of this additional data somewhere off the property also

Here are some other things you can do:

1. Store photocopies of your passports/house deeds/insurance papers in your go bag and also somewhere safe, off the property (maybe where you store your inventory photos)
2. Consider a safety deposit box for irreplaceable items
3. Don't skimp on your insurance policy - really figure out how much you would need to rebuild your home (have you seen the price of sofas recently?)
4. Keep back ups of family photos online or at someone else's house
5. Invest in a fire-proof safe (there is no guarantee you'll be able to retrieve it, but if the fire isn't all consuming, you might be able to save some jewellery or other items)

Tips for photographs:

• Take wide angle shots with good lighting
• State Farm recommends taking a photo with you in it, to establish ownership
• Don't forget stuff in drawers, closets, tool boxes
• Take close up shots of valuables, with any markings or stamps visible (like 925 for sterling silver)

Ah ha, proof we own our kitchen. 
And that bottle of vinegar we were using for cleaning

Not as good a photo for insurance purposes . . .

Much better for insurance

A blog is certainly a good start (I sure have tons of online pics of our place), but I need to get serious about taking an inventory.  I found a good checklist that will help (see here).  Do you have a checklist created already?  Any other tips for protecting your assets?

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Smoke Detectors: A Gal (or Guy's) Best Friend

Who tells you when you've over cooked the turkey?  The smoke detector.
Who alerts you to a flame so you can get your loved ones out in the event of a fire?  You guessed it.
And for those who live alone, who alerts you to flame so it can be put out before your shoes are injured?  The trusty smoke detector once again. 

Source

I've been thinking about them since the fire, but also because the shower steam set ours off the other night.  Haven't heard that sound since I made dinner for a visiting relative (No joke.  In the process of opening doors and windows to release the smoke, I set the house alarm off too.  I am the host with the most).

Source

So, now that you respect your smoke detector a bit more here's what you need to know:

1. Make sure you've got one outside of sleeping areas & on every level
2. Follow manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance
3. Test periodically (by following directions on package-not by lighting a flame or burning a turkey)
4. Vacuum/dust occasionally to keep the vents clear of debris
5. Choose batteries with a long life
6. Replace ones older than 10 years

Did you know there are two kinds?  I did not.  Courtesy of Health Canada, I learned this info:

Two types of technology are used in smoke detectors and each is better at detecting a certain kind of fire.

The ionization type of smoke detector is generally better at detecting fast, flaming fires that burn combustible materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources could include paper burning in a waste basket or a grease fire in the kitchen. These kinds of fires account for 70% of home fires.

The photoelectric type of smoke detector is generally better suited for detecting slow-burning fires. These fires may smoulder for hours before they burst into flames and are caused by such things as cigarettes burning in couches or bedding. These kinds of fires make up 30% of home fires.

You may want to consider installing both types of smoke detectors, or models that incorporate both types of technology. This would ensure that you are alerted as early as possible to any kind of fire in your home.

Hmmm.  Good to know.

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Fire Safety Week Continues: Go Bags

What is a "Go Bag," you ask?  Have you seen the film Salt?  Remember when the CIA suspects Salt of being a Russian Spy and she runs to her apartment and grabs a pack sack with clothes, money, etc., and she's ready to dash in a flash?  What she grabbed was her "Go Bag".

Via

Basically you need to have a pack sack, or some kind of bag, packed that you could grab it in an instant.  Whether it is a house fire (like my neighbors just experienced) or an emergency evacuation, having a bag prepared can help save your life or, at the very least, prevent a major hassle once the commotion dies down.  A typical "Go Bag" (it never stops sounding cool to me) includes:

• Photocopy of your passport or other government issued identification
• Photocopy of the deed to your house
• Photocopy of your home and vehicle insurance policy
• Photocopy of health insurance documents
• Photos of family (for identification purposes)
• Local map
• Local emergency contact info (ex. shelters)
• Emergency cash
• Change of clothes (something warm)
• Good, sturdy shoes + socks
• Toothbrush + toothpaste
• Soap & other necessary toiletries
• Spare pair of prescription eyeglasses
• Radio (crank style is best)
• Flashlights (again, crank style is best or pack spare batteries)
• Whistle
• Pocket knife (such as a Swiss Army Knife)
• Water bottles + food (something easy to open & non-perishable is ideal)
• First aid kit
• Spare house keys
• Special needs items (such as an inhaler)

You might need to make a special one for babies (gosh they need so much stuff, right?) and/or pets as well.  Each family member (even kids) should have their own.

Source

This bag shouldn't be too heavy and shouldn't carry superfluous items (unpack that hair straightener right now).  It is an action movie/minutes to leave kind of bag.  I'm working on mine right now, and I'm taking a bit of space for a small photo album of truly special photos.  I'm petrified of losing my photographs.  So much so that I leave discs with copies of my photos in another city!  But the rest will be all serious stuff.  Promise.

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Impromptu Fire Safety Week Dans le Townhouse

Last night (around dinnertime) we saw a horrifying view from our townhouse: about a half dozen firetrucks and dozens of firemen (and women?) putting out a fire across the street.  Unnervingly, the homes across the way are also townhomes and thus many, many people were evacuated from their homes in freezing temperatures.  It was colder than minus 30 (Celsius), plus a windchill warning was in effect for the region.  Happily, no one was seriously injured and the flames were quickly contained to one room. 

Watching the smoke billow from the burning house made us realize how ill-prepared we are.  We've been meaning to take inventory for insurance purposes for ages and our "go-bags" are only half packed.  So, this week's theme will be fire focused as Hubby & I research and implement fire preparation tactics.  I'm going to figure out:

1. How I can help prevent this from happening to us
2. What a "go-bag" should contain
3. How to best inventory a home (including some neat tips)
4. Whatever else I need to learn to be "fire safe" & cover our butts if this happens to us

This is especially important for other townhouse (or apartment) dwellers because no matter how careful you are, if your neighbour is careless or simply unfortunate enough to have a house fire, you could be much more affected than if your homes were detached.  Although we all know this can happen to anyone.

Yep-that is SMOKE, billowing from a neighbour's window!

The pics are a touch blurry because a) it was really flippin' cold out so we snapped 'em from inside & b) we didn't want to be those people-the ones who cause car accidents by rubber necking to see an accident.  So we peeped from our window.  But, we didn't get a super good view because our backyard has a few nice trees:

Our backyard

Feel free to contribute your own tips, concerns, etc this week.  And don't worry, I won't be all doom & gloom.  I'll still be posting fun stuff too.  Fire safety week won't interrupt the regularly scheduled programming!

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