Approximately 33% of the homes in America are not adequately protected with smoke detectors. (NFPA)The death rate in homes are 45% lower when one working smoke detector is present. (NFPA) 46% of the occupants that lived through a fire thought their smoke detectors were working at the time. (NFPA)The four most common reasons for non-working smoke detectors

1. Disconnected batteries to prevent nuisance alarms

2. Dead batteries

3. Debris build up/obstruction

4. Component failure due to age

(Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Most Americans are not aware that a smoke detector must be replaced according to the manufacturers recommendations. The ionization type smoke detector, which is the most common type, has a useful life of 10 years and then it is recommended that the unit(s) should be replaced.

Numbers of homes with smoke detectors that do not work outnumber homes without smoke detectors. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Out of 96 million American households, 11 million have no working smoke detectors and 16 million have detectors but none of them work. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Low income houses are more likely to have no working smoke detectors. (Consumer Products Safety Commission)

One and two family dwellings are where 79% of all home 2,670 fire deaths occurred. (NFPA 2002)

In the U.S., a civilian dies from fire every 156 minutes. (NFPA 2002)

Statistics show that fire deaths are higher for the most vulnerable portion of society, children and the elderly. (NFPA)