Agency has smoke alarms available to homes in need

    Healthy Aroostook received 600 smoke alarms from the Home Safety Council to be installed in homes through local fire departments in Houlton, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Loring and Ashland. Healthy Aroostook is partnering with Aroostook Agency on Aging and Aroostook County Action Program’s Energy and Housing Services Department who will refer clients in need of a smoke alarm (including installation) to their local fire department. If you or anyone you know is in need of a smoke alarm including installation, please contact your local fire department.
    According to the Home Safety Council, 97 percent of homes have at least one smoke alarm, but one may not be enough. To ensure your family will be effectively alerted to any fire danger, the Home Safety Council suggests using the following guidelines when installing and testing smoke alarms:
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Make sure there is an alarm near every sleeping area.
• Smoke rises, so smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings. Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
• Choose an installation location that is well away from the path of steam from bathrooms and cooking vapors from the kitchen, which can result in false, or nuisance alarms. Don’t install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
• Test each smoke alarm every month. Push the test button until you hear a loud noise.
• Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year.
• If your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, get new smoke alarms.
    ACAP provides the people of Aroostook with services and programs in the areas of health, child and family, energy and housing, and employment and training.