Re: “Death of seniors partly due to failed smoke alarm: Report,” The Leader, Oct. 3.
My wife and I are both senior citizens with smoke alarms in our basement, bedrooms, and two in our hallway. Two because one is hard-wired and will not work if we have a power failure. The other one is a the typical nine-volt battery-operated unit.
On reading this story, I checked out all of our smoke detectors.
Some things to watch for are steady or flashing green lights on the battery-operated units. Most smoke alarms come with a push-button that gives a beep if it is still working. Others are even guaranteed for 10 years.
If the smoke alarm gives out a chirping sound that is annoying your wife, it probably is telling you to change the nine-volt battery.
If children can run a computer, iPhone or iPad, checking out their grandparents’ smoke alarms would be child’s play – and could save a life.
Fred Perry
Surrey
