Latest news with #smokedetector
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent recall of 50,000 faulty carbon monoxide detectors over 'deadly' health concerns
A safety systems company has issued an urgent recall for more than 50,000 faulty smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, warning device malfunctions could be deadly. Apollo America has called back its Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on Thursday. The model 51000-600 alarms may fail to sound off if fire or toxic gases are detected, putting people a serious risk of smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning or death, according to the CPSC. All of the detectors included in the recall are white and have a 'replace by' date range from June 2034 to October 2034 on the front. 'Apollo' and the model number are written on the back of it. The defective products were exclusively sold through Utah-based retailer Vivant online, or through door-to-door or telephone sales from June 2024 to October 2024. Costing roughly $50 to $100 each, Vivant is sending free replacements to those who purchased the affected detectors. The tens of thousands of households believed to have these detectors installed should replace them. However, people should not stop using the recalled alarms until they get a new one, the CPSC wrote. Safety officials also warned that consumers should be cautious while getting rid of detectors' non-rechargeable lithium batteries, stating they can not be tossed like regular garbage. 'Lithium batteries must be disposed of differently than other batteries, because they present a greater risk of fire,' the recall reads. 'Your municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center or battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores may accept this lithium battery for disposal.' People should reach out to their local HHW beforehand to make sure they accept lithium batteries. No one has reported any injuries or incidents related to the called back Apollo detectors. Apollo America, based in Michigan, manufactures devices that are sold across North America, according to the company's website. It is a subsidiary of The Halma Group, an England-based global group of safety equipment firms. Both smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide exposure could be detrimental to people's health. Carbon monoxide - a subtle killer - claims hundreds of American lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unlike smoke, carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that causes sickness and death if inhaled. More than 400 Americans die, roughly 100,000 are taken to the emergency room and about 14,000 are admitted to the hospital every year from unintentionally breathing in the gas. In February, three US tourists were found dead in a Belize hotel. Their toxicology reports revealed they were killed by 'fatal exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning.' Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were found dead inside their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro. Each of the women died from acute pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs. A toxicology examination confirmed in March that the fatal condition was triggered by exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning. Local police believe a malfunctioning water heater in the women's room may have been to blame. Each of the women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60 percent. Saturation levels of 40 percent are enough to cause death. In another harrowing incident, the owner of an adored Baltimore restaurant died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside his own home, leaving his loved ones and customers heartbroken. Costas Triantafilos, 85, the owner of the famed Costas Inn, and his wife Mary were found unconscious inside their Glen Arm, Maryland, home in March. Baltimore County Fire Department officials rushed to the scene in response to reports of a cardiac arrest. But they soon detected high levels of the toxic gas flooding the home from a vehicle was left running in their garage, CBS reported. Costas tragically did not survive the carbon monoxide poisoning, while Mary was hospitalized and expected to recover. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning often first present as flu-like symptoms including headache, weakness, upset stomach, and vomiting. Dr. Albert Rizzo, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association, told 'Since it's odorless, tasteless, it can be very insidious and people don't often equate these kinds of symptoms with carbon monoxide poisoning.' Exposure can also lead to blurry vision and headaches, a dangerously fast heartbeat, seizures, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and death. Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough oxygen. Inhaling car or lawnmower exhaust is a leading cause. But people are also vulnerable to poisoning in the safety of their homes, especially if they live in smaller spaces.
CNET
01-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
I Found the 7 Most Effective Devices to Handle Home Fires
I think home fires are one of the most unpleasant surprises people face, but these dangerous disasters are unfortunately common, especially when making mistakes with space heaters or even concentrated sunlight during heatwaves. In my smart home and home security reviews, I've come across several devices that help guard against these fires without breaking the bank -- and they'll keep you updated on dangers even when you aren't at home. Here are the top smoke detectors, smart speakers and monitoring systems that make a real difference with minimal privacy concerns. Note: Always check your state regulations to see if you need a wired smoke detector vs. a battery model. Nest Protect (2nd gen) The Nest Protect is a popular option. Tyler Lizenby/CNET The most popular and best smart smoke detector on the market right now, the Nest Protect ($100), uses a split-spectrum sensor that supposedly helps it sense smoldering fires faster, and it combines that smoke-detecting prowess with helpful smarts. In practice, the Nest Protect responded to smoke almost as quickly as an ordinary Kidde smoke detector. Once the alarm sounds, you'll get a push notification, and you can use the app to silence the alarm in the case of burnt toast. The Nest Protect will also help you avoid those annoying low-battery chirps with notifications when it's time to replace your AAs. We found the smarts helpful when we tested the Nest Protect and recommend it readily to anyone looking to replace your dumb old smoke detectors with a smart upgrade. Note: Google is slowly discontinuing the Nest Protect. We're still recommending it for now because, well, it's a great smart smoke detector and Nest will be continuing to support it for years. But if you want to be on the cutting edge, you can look at this Nest-powered Kidde smoke detector instead for $130. Read CNET's full review of the Nest Protect (2nd gen). Ring-Supported Kidde Smoke Alarm Kidde's new detectors work with the Ring app right out of the box for alerts and battery notifications. Ring I've recently tested a very promising new smoke detector available this summer, a collaboration between home security brand Ring and one of our favorite smoke and fire brands, Kidde. This smoke detector uses a Kidde design combined with Ring technology to give it smart features and useful alerts. The Ring app will provide alerts, updates, low battery warnings and more information. This is a valuable combo, especially if you already use Ring devices or if you'd prefer not to use Google Home for a Nest system. Kidde Voice Alert Smoke Detector Kidde's voice alert detector is a great option for people who want to stay away from apps. Kidde If you don't care about Ring compatibility, our next stop is the latest photoelectric battery model from Kidde. It has excellent specs and Kidde smoke detectors reliably test well on our speed and smoke detection exams. The model has handy voice alarms that tell you what's wrong, like "Fire" vs. "Replace batteries" so you know what to expect. The design also helps reduce false alarms from things like candles or cooking. Just ensure you get a wired version if your building codes require a hardwired smoke detector in certain spots. SimpliSafe Home Security Smoke Detector If your home security system supports smoke detectors, tap into this compatibility. SimpliSafe If you already have a security system, you should start by looking for fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that your system already supports, so it can monitor and control them along with other sensors. Most home security systems offer devices like this, but SimpliSafe's is an ideal example of how it works. It works via the SimpliSafe app, is designed for accuracy and can tap into SimpliSafe's 24/7 home monitoring service if you choose to subscribe. Ting Electrical Fault Detectors Monitoring devices like Ting are made with electrical fires in mind. Ting/Whisker Labs A hidden cause of home fires is problems with wiring, which can be more common in older homes. If your home is high-risk, you may consider a monitoring solution like Ting, with plug-in devices that monitor your home electricity and watch for signs of faults. Ting says it can statistically stop four out of five home electrical fires with this kind of monitoring, and you may even get a credit amount to help pay for wiring repair. Alexa Emergency Assist Alexa Emergency Assist can listen for fire alarms among other services. Amazon What happens when you aren't home or can't quickly deal with a fire? A service like Alexa Emergency Assist could be the right answer if you want to go beyond detectors. It's relatively affordable compared to home monitoring plans at $6 per month, and Alexa has some valuable tricks, like the ability to listen for smoke alarms and send your phone a message about them, no matter where you are. The service can also put you in contact with an agent who can call the fire department and take other important steps. First Alert Rechargeable Fire Extinguisher First Alert There's not really any such thing as a "smart" fire extinguisher -- they are already quite efficient at what they do. And if your home doesn't have a fire extinguisher within easy reach (especially in the kitchen, where many fires can start), it's time to add one. Technically, this First Alert model is made for garages, but you can use it anywhere. It's durable, rechargeable, and ready even for grease and chemical fires. To learn more about home safety, consult our master list of home security topics, see the best DIY home security systems, and check out the worst home security myths people still believe.
