Gimme Five! Safety In Numbers

AURORA, Ill., Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With school back in session, it's time for a little math lesson. If the average American home is two stories with three bedrooms, how many smoke alarms are needed to protect it? If you answered less than five, keep reading.

The U.S. Fire Administration (www.usfa.fema.gov) recommends that homes have smoke alarms installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. To put this into perspective, the average-sized home in America needs a minimum of five smoke alarms.

This October, in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5-11), First Alert, the most trusted name in home safety*, is urging Americans to take stock of their home's security and protection from smoke and fire by testing alarms to ensure that batteries and devices are functioning properly, replacing any alarms that are outdated or dysfunctional, and installing new alarms in under-protected areas.

While Fire Prevention Week is now an 89-year old observance – the longest running presidential proclamation in history – this historical event has never been more stylish. Following in the footsteps of tablet computers, razor-thin cell phones and integrated household appliances, advances in smoke alarm technology have yielded new alarms that offer safety with a sense of style – while also providing the highest levels of protection from the threats of smoke and fire.

Packing all the power of an advanced photoelectric smoke alarm into a micro design, the new First Alert^® Atom^™ Smoke and Fire Alarm features a sleek, compact design that blends seamlessly into any wall or ceiling. Weighing in at less than two ounces, the smallest alarm available from First Alert reinforces the brand's reputation as an innovation leader.

"With the First Alert Atom alarm, big things really do come in small packages," says Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs for First Alert. "This award-winning alarm reflects today's trend toward more streamlined profiles while still offering maximum protection."

In addition to its minimalist, non-intrusive design, Atom also features revolutionary micro technology with an advanced smoke entry system for fewer false alarms, and a loud, penetrating siren. The alarm's accompanying long-life battery ensures continued protection for an extended period. This combination of advanced technology and appealing aesthetics has earned the Atom numerous industry honors for design and innovation.

"Our goal during Fire Prevention Week is to educate consumers about the dangers of smoke and fire and encourage them to test their alarms and replace devices as needed in order to better protect themselves, their families and their homes," Hanson added. "With the Atom, the options for protecting one's home have never been more appealing, and we hope that its combination of superior style and safety is the key to inspiring families to upgrade their home's level of protection."

For more information about First Alert products, visit www.firstalert.com.

*First Alert Brand Trust Survey, May 2014 – Results are based on the responses of 1,016 adults, ages 18 and older, living in the United States who completed a telephone survey, May 30 – June 2, 2014. Results are accurate to +/- 3 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult population in the United States within those statistical parameters. For more information or a copy of the complete survey and results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or [email protected]

About BRK Brands, Inc.
BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (Rye, NY)NYSE:JAH, a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. For 50 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brand in America. BRK® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra™ Fire Extinguishing Spray, ONELINK® wireless alarms and a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters most.  Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics® brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences.  BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide.  For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com or http://www.jarden.com.

About Jarden Corporation
Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of a diverse range of consumer products with a portfolio of over 120 trusted, quality brands sold globally. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, AeroBed®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, ExOfficio®, Fenwick®, Greys®, Gulp!®, Hardy®, Invicta®, K2®, Madshus®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, PENN®, Rawlings®, Ride®, Sevylor®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Völkl®, Worth® and Zoot®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Breville®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bernardin®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, Fiona®, First Alert®, First Essentials®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Lifoam®, Lillo®, Loew Cornell®, Mapa®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, ProPak®, Quickie®, Spontex®, Tigex® and Yankee Candle®. Headquartered in Florida, Jarden ranks #356 on the Fortune 500 and has over 30,000 employees worldwide. For further information about Jarden, please visit www.jarden.com.

©2014 BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504. All rights reserved.
First Alert® is a registered trademark of The First Alert Trust, Aurora, IL 60504.
BRK Electronics® is a registered trademark of BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504.
NYSE is a registered service mark of NYSE Group, Inc.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131031/CG08239

SOURCE First Alert