Try this test for the safety of your children
By samsonskola
@samsonskola (3357)
United States
February 8, 2007 6:40am CST
Last night I watched a news report that showed parents testing the response of their sleeping children to a smoke alarm going off. In almost EVERY test, the blaring sound of the smoke alarm going off either didn't wake their children at all, or took a FULL 2 MINUTES to wake them! Most did not even flinch in their sleep when the alarm went off! (children have different sleep patterns than adults)Be aware, that in 2 minutes time, children can die from smoke inhalation, which is what the majority of children die from in a fire. Try this test. Teach your children what they are to do in the event of an alarm going off, then tell them that you will test them sometime soon. Wait a few days, and when you are sure they have been sound asleep for a while, set off the smoke alarm in your house, and watch. If your children do not respond immediately to the alarm, you may want to implement an additional type of alarm system in your home. Please share the results of this test with all of us.
3 people like this
4 responses
@design (849)
• Ireland
11 Mar 07
Thanks for this information, I always presumed they'd wake up, something I'm going to test this weekend.
I test my smoke alarms monthly, and we've thought the girls what to do in case of a fire but I never thought of that, feel like shaking me self now. Thanks again.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
11 Mar 07
i would have never thought of it either, and i'm just glad if the info helps someone...good luck
1 person likes this
@superchook (1786)
• Australia
9 Feb 07
About a month ago we had our smoke alarm go off for no reason while my husband and I were watching tv. The kids were all asleep and none of them woke up at the sound. It took us a while to stop it too because we had to go and get a chair to stand on to stop it. I think it probably took about 3 minutes all up. It is a real worry and we are looking into another type.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
17 Feb 07
a very good idea...we cannot take enough precautions for ourselves, much less our children. thanks
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
8 Feb 07
This is very interesting for sure. When our daughters were home, we had fire drills in the middle of the night. We would even meet in our meeting place to make sure they knew what to do. I know it is important for eveyone but we heat our home with a coal stove and they are oftne dangerous. We had a neighbor family who
s home caught on fire and 3 of them burned up in the home. This was when I was about 9 years old. It taught me a valuable lesson that I never forgot. Theach your family to get out as fast as you can and to have a meeting place. Go to that meeting place immediately. The place should be outdoors away from the fire. Fires are serious and people do die in them.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
17 Feb 07
how sad for that family. yes, it is very important to have a plan and to make sure your children know what to do.
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
17 Feb 07
you're welcome. this is something i never realized. i always assumed it would wake everyone up.
