When smoke alarms are a nuisance: a call to action.

T here is a clear analogy between smoke detectors and child car seats. Both technologies have been enthusiastically embraced, and their widespread distribution has saved many thousands of lives. However, the issue of car seat misuse has led to a reevaluation of engineering and educational approaches for child occupant protection. It is time for a similar comprehensive reevaluation of smoke detectors for home fire safety.