National Center for Healthy Housing

The "10-Year" Smoke Alarm Study

 In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control began awarding funds to 14 state health departments to implement Smoke Alarm Installation and Fire Safety Education programs, which included installation of lithium-powered “10-year” smoke alarms in homes at high risk for fires and injuries. With CDC funding, the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) randomly selected 427 homes in five participating states (Georgia, Virginia, Washington, Kentucky, and Oklahoma) for enrollment in the project. Inspectors from each state enrolled dwelling units and conducted visual inspections of the installed smoke alarms and CO alarms (if present). Eight to 10 years after the installation of these smoke alarms, 33% of the alarms were functional and 67% were either missing or nonfunctional. Read more>

I have no children and children do not visit my house. Should I worry about lead-based paint?

While children are more susceptible to lead poisoning, adults who sand, dry-scrape, or otherwise disturb lead-based paint can also be poisoned by lead. In addition, the lead may be a problem for children who occupy such housing in the future. Any time lead painted surfaces are being disturbed, lead-safe work practices should be followed. More information is available here: http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/library/lead/LeadGuide_Eng.pdf