Our first blog post about Fire Safety in the Home. This week's focus is smoke alarm.

When looking at fire safety at home, the first step is knowing how many alarms you need.

You should fit at least 1 smoke alarm on every level of your home. This is a minimum recommendation.

They are easy to install and are available from DIY stores, electrical shops, online and most high street supermarkets.

When buying smoke alarms, look for the relevant symbols to show the alarm is approved and safe to use.

10 year sealed battery smoke alarms are the better option. They are more cost effective in the long run as you save on the cost of replacing the batteries, although the initial cost of the alarms is slightly higher.

There are a variety of different makes and models to choose from which can be overwhelming. Your local fire and rescue service will be happy to give you advice on which one is best suited to you. But please remember not to dial 999. Contact your local service on their direct contact number. 

Remember, fire kills. The easiest way to protect your home and family is with working smoke alarms: Get them. Install them. Test them. They could save your life.