CLOSE BEFORE YOU DOZE



FIGHTING FIRE WITH SCIENCE

Help us spread the word about the benefits of closing the door before you sleep. Underwriters Laboratories Firefighter Safety Research Institute has conducted extensive research that is life-saving to you at home!

Click on the "UL" logo on the left to see the dramatic, life-saving difference a closed door can make in a compartment fire. 

​Do you close your door before you doze?

Here is how you can order a KNOX product keyed for South Oldham Fire Department:

ORDERING ONLINE
To purchase product on the Knox website, click on the red ‘BUY’ button and follow the prompts. Depending on the installation address of your Knox product purchase, you will either purchase your products directly from the website on your first visit, be asked to return to the site to complete your transaction once your approving public safety agency has reviewed your product selection or, you will be asked to obtain and submit a Knox Authorization Order form directly to that same approving agency.

Follow these simple steps:

Smoke Detectors



A smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a fire in your home and could mean the difference between life and death. Fires can occur in a variety of ways and in any room of your home. But no matter where or how, having a smoke alarm is the first key step towards your family’s safety. This document is not intended to be all inclusive, but it is intended to inform the reader about some of the safety aspects and importance of having and maintaining working smoke alarms. Click HERE for useful information on types of detectors, how they work, where to install and much more information about them.

According to the United States Fire Administration, more than 600,000 residential fires occur annually, resulting in $5 billion in property damage. In addition, an estimated 1,000 children age 14 and under die and another 11,400 are injured in residential fires each year. More than 60 percent of these children are age 4 and under.

Most people vastly underestimate the importance of having working smoke detectors in their homes. The reality is that smoke detectors can often mean the difference between life and death. Your chances of dying in a fire are cut in half by the presence of a working smoke detector.

To assure proper placement and maintenance, the Kosair Children's Hospital Office of Child Advocacy recommends following these guidelines:

· Place a smoke detector in and near each bedroom or sleeping area. People sleeping have the greatest risk of dying in fires. Toxic gases and smoke lull them into a deeper sleep, eventually killing them.
· Place a smoke detector on each level of the home. If you live in a multi-level home, one on every level can provide up to three minutes to escape.
· Position smoke detectors on ceilings or high walls. Smoke rises, so detectors should be placed high and close to the middle of the room.
· Do not place the smoke detector on a wall that faces the outside if you live in a poorly-insulated or mobile home. The temperature of the wall may vary and cause the detector to malfunction.
· Position the detector away from cooking or furnace fumes, fireplace smoke and dust to reduce unwanted alarms. The best location is three feet away from an air vent or air conditioning unit since they can inhibit the detector's ability to sense smoke.
· Test detectors once a month. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for testing and maintenance.
· Clean the detector regularly. Dirt can "confuse" the detector and lead to false alarms or impair its ability to detect smoke.
· Replace the batteries in your detector at least once a year. The best way to remember to change the batteries in your smoke detector is to change them when you change your clocks to Daylight Savings Time.