As part of Fire Prevention Month, we would like to present the following smoke alarm tips:

- Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, especially near kitchen areas and hallways. They should be also installed in every bedroom.

- Based on the size of your home, you may need to install multiple smoke alarms on every floor.

- Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. You can do this yourself by pressing the test button to make sure the alarm works. If your smoke alarms are wired together, holding the test button on one alarm will test all the smoke alarms at one time.

- Replace batteries in smoke alarms twice a year. A good reminder is to change the batteries when the time changes in the spring and fall. This includes those alarms wired directly into your ceiling. These should also be changed as the battery will operate the smoke alarm during a power outage.

- Replace smoke alarms every 8-10 years.

Also, don't forget about carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. CO is an odorless and colorless gas, and CO detectors are legally required to be installed in every home. These should be checked monthly, and batteries should be replaced at the same time as smoke alarms. CO detectors should be replaced every 5-7 years.