Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless, which means it cannot be detected in the air by humans. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause serious long-term health problems and even death. More information
Carbon monoxide poisoning happens gradually and the severity depends on the amount inhaled and duration of exposure. When carbon monoxide is inhaled it interferes with our ability to get oxygen to our body and tissues. It also affects our blood vessels and causes them to become leaky, which can lead to unconsciousness and neurological damage. More information
Test all your smoke alarms every month to make sure they are working. All smoke alarms hard-wired or battery operated, are manufactured to a standard that requires them to have an effective life of 10 years. After this time, their efficiency can be compromised or they may malfunction. The use by date, or date of manufacture, should be stamped on the alarm, so check this yearly when you change your batteries. If any of your alarms are 10 years old replace them straight away. More information
Fires can start in many different ways, and are often unpredictable, so installing both ionisation and photoelectric smoke alarms is the best choice for your protection. Because many residential fires begin by smouldering, photoelectric smoke alarms provide the best overall protection, so if you decide to only install one type of smoke alarm, we recommend you choose photoelectric. More information
When you change your clock at the end of daylight savings, change your smoke alarm batteries too. All smoke alarms, whether ionised or photoelectric, hard-wired or battery operated, are manufactured to a standard that requires them to have an effective life of 10 years. After this time, their efficiency can be compromised or they may malfunction. More information
In your home, smoke alarms should be placed between each bedroom area and the rest of the house, and if you have a two-storey home, they must be located on all levels. Plus, if anyone sleeps with their door shut, you should install a smoke alarm inside the bedroom too. Photoelectric smoke alarms are ideal for hallways and living areas, while ionisation smoke alarms are good for bedrooms. More Information
