A simple functioning smoke detector can be the differencebetween life and death in a home fire situation, officials say.

The National Fire Protection Association said that 65 percent ofdeaths in house fires are in homes without a functioning smokedetector. Still, the smoke detectors are not working in one in fivehomes with smoke detectors installed.

Mississippi Fire Academy Associate Instructor Eric Smith saidsmoke detectors and fire extinguishers should be a must in everyhousehold.

“Every home should have them,” he said. “They’re a great firstline of defense. And now they’re mounting the smoke detectors onthe ceilings instead of on the wall for a better responsetime.”

He said smoke detectors must be kept up to date. This can bedone by checking them monthly and changing their batteries twice ayear.

“When you change your clocks forward and backward for daylightsavings, that’s a good time to change your batteries in your smokedetector,” he said.

And fire extinguishers should be placed at least in the kitchenand preferably in other places throughout the home as well.

“Every home should have a fire extinguisher,” Smith said. “Andevery homeowner should know how to use one.”

Smith said another important safety precaution is to practiceexit routes in case of a fire.

“You have to practice exit drills in your home,” Smith said.”People need to know the quickest way out. In addition, you need tohave a place to meet when you get outside, especially thekids.”

And once all the exit routes have been determined and the familyknows what to do in case of a fire, the next step is critical.

“Practice, practice, practice,” said Smith.

Another important device for every home with a gas furnace is acarbon monoxide detector, Smith said.

“Carbon monoxide is the fume put off by a burning furnace ifit’s not efficient or needs servicing,” he said. “It’s verydangerous because it’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. If you’reflushed, dizzy, and have headaches, there’s a good possibility youhave carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Smith said at the first warning signs, a homeowner should opendoors and windows and circulate the fresh air through the home,then call the gas company.

Electric space heaters can also be a danger during the wintermonths, Smith said. He said the most common mistake is putting thespace heater too close to other things.

“They need space,” he said. “You can’t just pile combustibles uparound them. You also have to be careful what you set them on.”

Overall, Smith said, homeowners should be aware of fireprevention techniques, and should keep a close eye on their homes.He said almost all fires start from something as simple asnegligent house keeping, a stove or dryer, or everyday humanerror.

“There are three things that start fires: Men, women, andchildren,” he said.