An electrical fire broke out last week in a two-story family home in Bethesda. A set of triplets remains in critical condition today. Both the father and the nanny were home during the fire, but by the time they understood what was going on, they could not reach the two year old boys. There were no functioning smoke detectors in the house.

No matter how safe we think we can keep our children, there is no substitute for a working smoke alarm. The US Fire Administration suggests that you install at least one on every level of your home, including the basement. They are cheap and easy to install. Battery powered smoke alarms require nothing more than a screwdriver and a battery. Amazing how five minutes of effort now can save your entire family later.