Smoke detectors save thousands of lives every year, but will your children really wake up to them? ABC News put a family's smoke detector system to the test.
In one Connecticut, the McBride family decided to test whether or not their three-and-a-half year old and their one-year old. Half of all house fires happen in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep, so it's absolutely critical for smoke alarms to wake up children especially. The mom of two explained, "[My son] knows the sound. We have our plan. We actually have a fire ladder in our bedroom, and our plan is to obviously get them, get the ladder, and get out."
After setting off the smoke alarms in both kids' bedrooms and the overall smoke alarm systems for four minutes, the kids were both found fast asleep, to their parents dismay. As a mom and dad, they said, "It just makes you think - not that you wouldn't react quick -but you've really got to react the second you hear that because [the kids] aren't gonna hear that."
Firefighters say that the recommended areas to put smoke alarms in bedrooms, outside bedrooms, and one on every level. It's best if you place smoke alarms near the stairwell as well because the smoke rises and travels upstairs. Overall, though, the most important part of smoke alarm safety that firefighters urge most is for families to check and make sure that their smoke detectors work effectively.