Comments on: Do Smoke Alarms Wake Children?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:39:55 +0000

Keep in mind that if you have an older child stay alone with other siblings, none of them would wake up. Don’t assume that you could wake up everyone in a fire situation.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:57:40 +0000

Our downstairs alarm went off right outside our teenage daughter’s room. My husband and I both woke up. Our room is at the opposite end of the house upstairs. Our daughter did not. Fortunately it was just a warning that the battery was low but, now we know if there is a fire don’t expect kids to get out on there own.

By: The Lazy Organizer

The Lazy Organizer — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:24:32 +0000

I’ve been writing about emergency prepareness on my blog. We are completely obsessed with it at our house. Having night time fire drills is a great idea.

I have one son who will sleep through everything but my daughter is good at waking up. I guess it will be her job to wake up her siblings.

If you have ever read The Hiding Place by Corrie Tenboom you know about the night time drills they did with her so she could practice answering questions about the Jews she was hiding. It took a long time before she could wake up fast enough to correctly lie to the questioners.

By: Jessica @ A Bushel and a Peck

Jessica @ A Bushel and a Peck — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:38:38 +0000

I also saw a report on this that was on the news in Mass, and they talked about a special type of fire alarm that actually plays a recording of the parent’s voice. The kids woke up in less than a minute with that one, where they slept right through the traditional one. I will try to find out where they said you could get them….

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:40 +0000

Wendy, I heard of those parental-voice talking alarms too, somewhere, so you’re NOT making it up!

By: Gina...

Gina... — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:19:54 +0000

I think that night reaction has alot to do with daytime reaction. It’s rare (I swear) in our house, but it HAS happened, that the smoke alarm goes off while cooking. It doesn’t have to happen often for the subconsious mind to pick up that it’s not something to be immediately “alarmed” about.

If the smoke alarm in our house went off in the middle of the night, I _think_ our kids would wake (depending on their sleep stage) and if they did wake they would be worried; but they would not be panicky like they would if it was a alarm sound they never heard before. I guess that’s the desired effect.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:27:37 +0000

Both of my children are hard of hearing, so we have to a hearing dog in traning, At this time we only have one, but after I finish training this one, we will add a second one as our bedrooms are on opposite ends of the house.

I am in the process of getting ADT (security) that will add flashing lights if there is a fire.

If sound of the alarms don’t wake the kids, perhap flashing lighted smoke alarms will. They are not only for the deaf.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:53:31 +0000

I have heard either from a NEWS source or our Alarm guy friend, that children would wake to the sound of their parents’ voice than an alarm. I think there is an alarm out there where you can record your voice or I could be making that up.

My kids wake up to the sound of the security alarm. It scares them. I am not sure why, because I have never explained what the purpose of the alarm is. I am sure the sight of me jumping out of my skin whenever it goes off hasn’t help the issue.

By: Katy

Katy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:46:29 +0000

Is anyone else having problems with Handiland? It will not load and open for us….Other wise..everything is wonderful my son absolutely loves this place! Thanks

By: Thia

Thia — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:12:06 +0000

You can also contact your local fire department and they may offer to have the kids tour the fire house and see firemen in full gear. It’s important that children do this so that they aren’t scared of a fireman when they see him in an already scary situation. If they can’t do it one on one, they may tell you when their next fire safety presentation is, although those are usually during fire safety month. While you’re at it, check your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers!
(sorry…it’s bred in the bone, my dad is a volunteer fm)