Test, replace smoke detectors often to save lives Published Sept. 8, 2006 By Tech. Sgt. Wayne Blake 16th CES HURLBURT FIELD, Fla -- If only everyone tested their smoke detectors every month, replaced the battery once a year and replaced detectors when they were more than 10 years old - firefighters would feel more confident about the ability of families to survive a house fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, half of all house fire deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors. It's hard to believe that despite smoke detectors being available to consumers for many years, nearly six percent of American homes are still unprotected A 1993 study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Smoke Detector Project found that about one-fifth of the smoke alarms in homes were not connected to a working power source. Eleven percent of the units were missing batteries, five percent had dead batteries, three percent had disconnected batteries and one percent had been disconnected from the A/C power source. Smoke detectors are a very serious and personal issue for me. In February of 2003, I tragically lost three family members to a house fire. Their lives may have been saved if only they had smoke detectors in their home. As a firefighter of 16 years and a fire inspector, this event has increased my desire to ensure the safety of everyone within my grasp. Please help me ensure your safety and that of your loved ones, check your smoke detectors at least monthly, and change the batteries annually. Your life could depend on it!