Book 10, Question 83
Why Does Smell Warn You of Smoke?
Smell warns you of smoke because your nose catches tiny floating molecules very fast! Smoke has a strong smell, so you can notice it before you see flames. If you ever smell smoke, tell a grown-up and get to a safe place.
More fun facts
- In a study of 704 patients at a smell and taste clinic, the more someone's sense of smell was damaged, the more likely they were to have had a dangerous event.
- About 18 percent of people with normal smell had experienced such an event, compared with about 39 percent of people with no sense of smell at all.
- The dangerous events studied included burning pots and pans, starting a fire while cooking, and being unable to smell gas leaks or smoke.
- In a 2022 survey of people with smell problems, about 86 percent said they worried about safety, especially gas, smoke and food.
- In that survey, about a third of people had had a food incident, such as eating something spoiled, because they could not smell it.
Sources: National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health
Questions kids ask
Why do homes need smoke alarms if people can smell smoke?
A nose can miss smoke, especially if someone's sense of smell is weak, but a smoke alarm gives a loud warning everyone can hear.