One of the newest products on the market today is FireArrest™, a next generation smoke alarm. FireArrestJ is the first wireless, easy to install home fire monitoring system that brings the fire department when a fire is detected. This system uses photoelectric technology and Alarmcast Security Services to provide around-the-clock monitoring, protecting your loved ones and possessions at all times. Photoelectric technology is fast and reliable. This new technology is able to detect smoldering fires much faster than ionization. The FireArrestJ photoelectric alarm can detect a fire in its earliest stages of smoldering to help prevent potential damage and injury. Photoelectric technology also reduces the likelihood of false alarms. The photoelectric sensors in FireArrestJ alarms analyze the air in your home every 9 seconds. They distinguish between everyday household particles and those that indicate the presence of a real fire. Photoelectric alarms are reliable enough to practically eliminate false alarms.
The risk of death from fire for Americans 65 and over is more than twice the risk for younger adults. Older burn victims are likely to spend more than 40 days in the hospital. (1) Fires in the homes of senior citizens are most often caused by smokers' accidents, followed closely by cooking accidents.(2)
Smokers often become victims of fire by falling asleep while smoking, either in bed or in a favorite chair, especially after consuming alcohol or taking medication. Smokers can also become victims of fire if they empty an ashtray before the smoldering cigarette butts are completely extinguished.
While smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths among older people, cooking is the leading cause of fire injuries among seniors. (3) Cooking fires are often caused when a person wearing loose-fitting clothing reaches over a hot burner, when pot holders or towels are placed too close to a burner or when the person bumps into the stove.
Regardless of the cause of the fire, older adults are particularly vulnerable when it comes to residential fires. In fact, once adults reach 70, they are more likely than infants to suffer death or injury as a result of a residential fire. (4)
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) regards smoke alarms as one of the most important fire safety devices for protecting a home against fire. Proper maintenance of smoke alarms is crucial to their effectiveness; they should be tested at least once a month. If older adults find it difficult to reach alarms on the ceilings or to test or replace batteries, alarms can be mounted on a wall not more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
For the best defense against fire, the USFA also recommends that homeowners add a monitored fire alarm system to work with a home's smoke alarms.(5) Monitored fire alarm systems help protect homes from fire if no one is at home and it protects people in the home who may not be able to adequately respond to a fire.
The most effective smoke alarms available today are using photoelectric technology. However, the type of alarm most commonly found in homes in the United States uses an ionization technology. Ionization alarms sense the smaller, less visible particles of smoke that are manifested by actual flames, while photoelectric alarms can sense smoldering fires up to an hour earlier and aren't susceptible to false alarms from cooking smoke or steam from a shower.
In addition installing the most effective smoke alarms, seniors may want to consider getting a monitored system for two key reason: Your home is always protected and you'll enjoy a significant savings on your homeowner's insurance.
"Despite the increased use of smoke alarms, residential fires continue to claim more lives." said Jim Hancock, the fire chief for the city of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. "There is no question that response times can be significantly reduced if fire alarm signals are receive by your fire department when the occupants are unable to call for help."
For further information about FireArrestJ, please call 1-888-488-1492 or visit the web site at http:// www.alarmcast.com
The patented FireArrestJ photoelectric technology is used in more than 4 million smoke alarms installed throughout North America today. FireArrestJ equipment is provided by Supra, a division of Interlogix, Inc. Since 1966, Interlogix companies have developed, manufactured and distributed components, software, and systems that are designed to deliver security, safety, convenience and lifestyle enhancements to consumers and businesses throughout the world. Visit http://www.interlogixinc.com for more information about Interlogix, Inc., and its products.
FireArrest™ systems will be monitored around-the-clock by some 20,000 trained employees who monitor homes and businesses nationwide. Alarmcast uses the largest single provider of electronic security services to monitor your FireArrest™ system. More than two million commercial, federal and residential customers throughout North America and the United Kingdom utilize this total security solution which includes intrusion and fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, mobile security, critical condition monitoring and integrated systems. For more information about a security system for your home, your home office or business away from home, contact www.alarmcast.com or call 1-888-488-1492.