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Keeping Your Safety and Security Devices Updated

Richard Armen - 02/22/2012

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All you have to do to keep your family safe from a fire, break-in, or other emergency is to buy the right security devices and emergency supplies, right? While this is a crucial first step, what happens if you try to put out a kitchen fire, only to find that your fire extinguisher sputters because it's years past its expiration date? Most families are pretty good about buying the necessary security and safety devices when they first move into a home, but forget to keep them updated. Here are a few things that you should be maintaining on at least a yearly basis to keep your family safe:

1) Replace your smoke alarm batteries. Even if the batteries haven't yet died, change them out every 6 months to a year. Do it when you change your clocks for daylight savings time, twice per year, so that you don't overlook this crucial step. If in doubt, check the batteries by pressing the 'test' button to make sure the alarm will sound.

2) Check your fire extinguisher pressure. Far too many families put a fire extinguisher in their kitchen and garage, and then forget about it completely. Fire extinguishers decrease in pressure over the years, so make sure that the extinguisher is still working properly. After all, this is not something you want to discover as your kitchen goes up in flames!

3) Update your first aid kit. Make sure that you haven't removed anything throughout the year, and that none of the medications contained in the kit have passed their expiration date. Don't forget to add any daily medications or other specialty first aid items that you may need.

4) Likewise, check your emergency kit. Make sure it contains everything your family needs - including a change of clothes, all necessary medications, and enough food and water to last several days - and that nothing has been damaged or expired throughout the year.

5) Has your pepper spray expired? If you carry pepper spray, did you even know it had an expiration date? Most canisters are marked with a date, and have a lifespan of about five years. Past that time, the pepper spray may still work, but it may not spray out of the can as forcefully as before. If in doubt, replace the canister. After all, what could be worse than being confronted by an attacker, pulling out your pepper spray to fight back, and having nothing happen when you press the button?

6) Do you know how to use all of these devices? Now is a great time to remind yourself of how, exactly, you use your stun gun, your fire extinguisher, or the fire escape ladder in your bedroom. Simply having these devices around isn't enough to protect you - you must keep them updated so that they will work as intended, and you must know how to use them.

Taking the time to check or replace these critical devices will keep you and your family safe. These steps only take a few minutes, and if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, you'll be glad you did.