A hard hitting advertising campaign is being backed by West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service because residents are twice as likely to die in a blaze if they don't have a working smoke alarm.

The campaign, which is called 'Push the Button Not Your Luck!', has been launched by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Nationally, 80 per of the population own smoke alarms. However, statistics show that in one in every eight house fires attended by fire and rescue services, the smoke alarm failed to work, largely due to flat or missing batteries.

Jackie Boyle , West Sussex Fire Rescue Service Community Fire Safety Officer, said: "We're backing this campaign because it encourages people to test their smoke alarm batteries each week by stressing the fatal consequences of forgetting. It takes seconds to push the button – so try and get into the habit of testing it during weekly chores.

"Ask yourself:

• Is everyone in your family safe from fire
• Do your parents have a working smoke alarm in their home
• What about sons and daughters leaving home for the first time or going into student digs Safety from fire is unlikely to be top of their agenda.

Jackie gives five essential smoke alarm tips to make sure you don't push your luck this month.

• Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home.
• Check the battery once a week.
• Replace the battery every twelve months.
• Battery smoke alarm units should be replaced every ten years.
• Consider installing ten-year battery smoke alarms or mains-powered alarms.

Lionel Barnard , West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: "This is an important campaign because smoke alarms provide vital early warning signs when a fire breaks out, which is often during the night.

"The message from our firefighters is quite straightforward: Please don't put yourselves or your family at risk for the sake of a battery."

For further information about smoke alarm maintenance and fire safety advice go to www.firekills.gov.uk or contact your local fire station.