DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles has urged everyone in the UK to test their smoke alarms monthly, warning that households without a working alarm are 11 times more likely to die in a house fire. His advice aired on BBC Morning Live as the show marked six years on air.
Millions never test their alarms
A UK survey commissioned by Electrical Safety First found that four million Brits never test their smoke alarm. The research also showed that almost one in 10 people check their alarm only once a year or less.
Knowles, speaking in the Morning Live studio when the segment first aired on February 23, told hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton: "Once I did the research into it, even I was surprised at some of the things you actually have to do to make sure your home is safe."
He added: "I know it's one of those boring things about testing your smoke alarms, but if you actually think about your family and you never really think about getting your family out of the house until there is a fire - it's really, really important to make a little time each month to do some checks."
11 times more likely to die
Citing the survey, Knowles said: "We know smoke alarms save lives, but people forget - or they think they last forever. Neither of those things is good."
He stressed: "It can be life-saving as well as life-changing. You are 11 times more likely to die in a house fire if you do not have a smoke alarm. 11 times more likely - that's ridiculous. That's why it's really important."
Knowles noted there are 35,000 house fires every year in the UK. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service reports that cooking is the biggest fire risk in the home, with electrical faults and faulty appliances among the most common causes, alongside smoking and candles.
How to test your alarm
To test an alarm, press and hold the test button, usually found on the front or side of the unit, until the alarm sounds. A loud, continuous tone means it is working. Testing may vary between models, so checking the guide for the specific device is advised.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says that in the event of a fire, you should get out of the building, closing doors behind you, stay out, and call 999 and ask for the fire service.
Knowles also warned that a chirp-like sound means the alarm is running out of battery and needs checking. He added: "The big surprise for me is that actually every 10 years - even if you have a wired-in system - you should change your smoke alarms. Because the thing in it they recognise smoke can corrode and stop working over a period of years."
His checklist advises replacing the battery immediately if the sound is weak or silent, replacing the entire alarm every 10 years even if it seems to work, and having at least one alarm on every floor, ideally interconnected so they all sound together.
