Abstract: A smoke or other type of hazard alarm with drop-out protective hood or the like is provided which serves automatically upon detecting smoke to drop a tethered personal smoke protective hood or mask to a convenient height for user access. The preferred embodiment includes a housing containing a smoke detector, a compartment in which the hood is stored, a hinged and normally latched door closing the compartment, and a solenoid which is energized by the smoke detector for unlatching the door. When smoke is detected, the detector sounds an alarm and energizes the solenoid which unlatches the door allowing it to swing open, thereby permitting the hood to drop to a level predetermined by the length of the tether. Thus hood is accessible by the user who then removes the hood, puts it on, and is thereby protected from smoke inhalation during escape to a safe place. The smoke detector can also activate a prerecorded verbal emergency message played by a unit contained within the housing.