Smart homes make life easier, but are they keeping you safe?

(BPT) – Homes in the United States continue to get smarter as many people frequently use voice assistants, smart doorbells, smart appliances and more to make life easier. Now, as the smart home evolution continues, homeowners want more than just convenience — they want smart devices that help keep them safe, too.The ability to protect your home and your family will always be a priority. In addition to everyone staying safe and healthy, you want your home to remain strong and secure. Smart devices can now help with this as they are working to detect threats and provide alerts of fire, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, air quality concerns, water pipe freezes, leaks and more.A Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of Kidde, the #1 most installed fire safety brand in North America, found that today people are more connected than ever, with 83% of Americans having at least one smart device in their home and three in five smart device owners relying on those devices to keep their families and them safe. These technologies grant homeowners and renters confidence with 69% having peace of mind that those devices will alert them in real-time when an issue arises.One issue that is a top concern is fire protection. Every 23 seconds, a fire department in the U.S. responds to a fire somewhere in the nation, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unfortunately, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms.CO poisoning is another common safety concern as it’s a potentially deadly gas with no smell. Every year, at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning and approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency department annually due to accidental CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Smart home devices and alarms can help detect threats and provide you and your family alerts to common safety concerns such as smoke and CO, as well as additional threats such as water leaks, frozen pipes and indoor air quality issues. Comprehensive technology is transforming how these issues are monitored and how you are alerted, giving you elevated peace of mind.For example, the new Kidde HomeSafe™ suite of products includes a Smoke + CO Alarm with Indoor Air Quality Monitor. This alarm detects smoke, CO, adverse temperature, humidity levels and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), which include harmful particles in the air that can lead to health issues. Another option is the Water Leak + Freeze Detector that helps prevent frozen pipes and alert property owners to water leaks that can lead to mold, mildew and compromised property integrity, not to mention potentially extensive repair costs. These Wi-Fi enabled devices include smart features that can be connected to consumers’ Kidde app, which allows for real-time alerts to be sent directly to a smartphone, even if you’re not home. Additionally, the HomeSafe products are compatible with some of the most popular voice assistants, offering the use of voice commands to check alarm status and connection.Mobile alerts also allow you to notify your emergency contact of a potential threat (911, friends and family), and you can silence false alarms when you are home, like when you accidentally burn your toast. Kidde’s HomeSafe products provide greater control and more confidence, right at your fingertips.In today’s world, having a smart home should mean keeping your family healthy and safe. It’s about having the technology and features you need to give you the confidence to protect the people, places and things that matter the most.