Everyone knows that CPR supplies or an AED are a good thing to have around in case of an emergency, but no one has these. There are ways you can protect yourself against emergencies in the house without going out to buy complex and expensive equipment that will keep your family safe in the event of a fire.

Statistically, smoke alarms are the safest form of protection for your family. Many potential fatalities have been prevented with this system. Smoke alarms come in two basic types, the Ionization alarm and the Photoelectric alarm. Ionization alarms are better at detecting flames and are more likely to be set off more quickly when there is a fast fire with little smoke. On the other hand, Photoelectric alarms are designed to detect smoke. Some smoke alarms opt to use a combination of both of these detection systems to detect both fire and smoke, and these are called a dual sensor smoke alarm. It is best to install both or the dual. If you or a loved one has a hearing disability or some other disability, there are smoke alarms that are made to accommodate those needs, like smoke alarms that flash and vibrate to help alert everyone.

It is best to install one on each level of your house. Put them in bedrooms as well as the rest of the house. It is also very important that you install your smoke alarm properly and at the right level, as gases and deadly smoke rise, and will not be detected quickly enough if the alarms are not at the right level. Some are easier to install than others. Many home alarm systems are battery powered and all you have to do to install it is stick it to the ceiling or wall if it is a brand that has adhesive on it, or screw it in with a screwdriver if not.