Substandard fire detectors

In response to my article last week, about fire safety, a local reader sent me an e-mail. He had seen a fire safety leaflet for UK residents in eighteen foreign languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Somali and Urdu.
The UK Fire Service stresses the importance of installing smoke detectors at home. In fact if you are elderly, they will even supply and fit smoke detectors in your home, free of charge. He then checked out the website of the recommended retailer, with a view to purchasing and installing a smoke detector that meets with standards here in Saudi Arabia. One of the top international manufacturers is an American company. When he contacted their official distributors here in Saudi Arabia, one of them offered him fire detectors at three times the market price, and another was so surprised to even receive a query from a resident, that he did not even bother to follow up on the customer’s request.
The reader believes that responses he received, or the lack of them, was because awareness of the importance of installing quality smoke detectors, is almost non-existent among local residents. As he was not prepared to buy a sub-standard smoke detector, he decided to purchase them from abroad and have them shipped to Saudi Arabia. He also says, and I quote, “Perhaps The Saudi Fire brigade could start a smoke detector campaign in conjunction with a major manufacturer to help people acquire and install such detectors in their homes. Installation is also important, as there are technical guidelines that many people are unaware of. Qualified installers or electricians should be utilized.” Well said.
I was recently sent a YouTube video that demonstrates how we should handle kitchen fires. It is short but very informative with a powerful message and I think everyone should see it.
Here is the link: http://goo.gl/2AiEe
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Email: maha.mufti@arabnews.com