According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in more than 50% of home fires that were reported to fire departments in the U.S. between 2014-2018, residents were alerted to the danger by a working smoke alarm. Almost 60% of home fire deaths occurred in homes without properly-functioning smoke alarms or no smoke alarms at all during the same time period.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning every year with approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visiting the emergency department each year due to accidental CO poisoning. It is important to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms periodically to make sure they are working properly, and change the batteries when needed.