When it comes to home safety, preparation is critical. The following tips will help you ensure your family and home are well protected in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) incident:

Check your alarms. If you can’t remember when your alarms were installed, the safest bet is to replace them. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years and CO alarms every five to 10 years, depending on the model. Remember that batteries in your alarms don’t last forever and should also be replaced every six months, unless the alarm features a 10-year sealed battery.

Install two-in-one protection. Installing alarms with two-in-one protection, such as the First Alert 10-Year Battery Combination Smoke and CO Alarm, can be a convenient way to help ensure long-term protection. They alert you to smoke or CO threats, and a 10-year sealed battery eliminates the need for battery replacements and late-night battery chirps for a decade. Both smoke and CO alarms need to be maintained and tested regularly to ensure that they’re working properly. Testing your alarms is simple – hold down the test button and wait for the alarm to sound. It’s also important to clean your alarms to remove any dust or debris that could prevent them from functioning properly.

Take stock of safety. Designate a place in your home for other safety items, including extra batteries, flashlights, an all-weather radio, and non-perishable food and water. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher on each level of your home and in higher risk areas like the kitchen and garage. Make sure that they are easy to reach, accessible to every adult member of the household and that all adults know how to use them.

More information about how you can help protect your home and family can be found at firstalert.ca