Americans Know More About Twinkies than Smoke Alarms
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Scott Olson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — This being Fire Prevention Week, it’s probably smart to check on whether the smoke alarms in your home need replacing.
Unfortunately, a survey conducted for Kidde Fire Safety suggests that Americans still have a lot to learn about the longevity of smoke alarms.
For instance, just nine percent of respondents knew that these potential lifesavers have an operating life of ten years. In contrast, more than four in ten were aware that the shelf life of a Hostess Twinkie is 45 days.
Another distressing finding: about half of Americans spend 15 minutes or less to shop for smoke alarms.
Since fire deaths went up 16 percent in 2013, Kidde Fire Safety says it’s important that people take the matter more seriously. When fatalities from fires occur, 60 percent of the time they happen in homes with non-working smoke alarms.
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