The number of victims in household fires doubles in homes without smoke detectors. Smoke inhalation is the main cause of death in fires in the home. Because of this, the Barcelona Fire Service has launched a campaign to make people aware of the importance of installing smoke detectors in the home.
These are simple devices which let off an acoustic alarm if they detect smoke in the early stages of a fire. This enables people to respond quickly, call the 112 emergency number and take self-protection measures.
For smoke detectors to be most effective, they should be fitted on ceilings, away from walls and located as centrally as possible. Hallways are recommended, as are communal spaces giving access to the bedrooms, and locations close to the door of the kitchen and near to places where you charge electric devices such as scooters and bikes. The more detectors you have, the better protected you will be.
In contrast, detectors should not be installed on kitchen or bathroom ceilings or next to heaters, as steam or sharp changes in temperature can cause false alarms.
They are easy to install and involve no building work as they are battery powered. They simply need checking from time to time by pressing the test button and following the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the alarm still sounds.
Another advantage of this fire prevention measure is that alarms are relatively inexpensive. You can find them in hardware stores or hypermarkets as from 10 to 15 euros.