If you are still looking for a new year’s resolution, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has the perfect solution.

Make 2017 the year that you ensure that your smoke alarms are up to date, working properly, and in the right place to protect you and your loved ones.

It takes seconds to check your smoke alarm; but those few seconds could save your life, and the life of everybody else in your household.

Many people see January as the time to make a fresh start, and that should apply to safety as much as anything else.

Smoke alarms have been proven time and time again to give someone some precious extra seconds to increase their chances of safely escaping a fire.

Did you know that the average alarm has a lifespan of between seven to ten years, after which they need replacing to be truly effective?

For those who live in a multi-storey property or larger home, one smoke alarm may simply not be enough.

Stuart Millington, Senior Fire safety Manager, said: “At this time of year, many people will be thinking of what they can do, big or small, to make a fresh start and improve their lives, homes and wellbeing.

“A smoke alarm can offer vital protection for you and your loved ones, but most people simply fit and forget, and don’t know when the detector might be coming to the end of its lifespan.

“For most of us, there’s nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and secure.

“When it’s the safety of your loved ones you are considering, it should be easy to find the motivation to make this one resolution that you will definitely want to keep.”

Keep your alarms in good working order

• Test them by pushing the button regularly;
• Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home;
• Fit smoke alarms on landings, hallways and in rooms which have an electrical appliance; and
• Take a moment to check on your less able loved ones, to ensure that they are also fully protected.