Smoke alarms save lives! Change batteries when you turn your clocks back.

10/30/2009 4:25:56 PM

Contact: Elizabeth Watts

As daylight savings ends on November 1, 2009, don’t forget to set your clock back an hour when you go to bed Saturday night and don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms could mean the difference between getting out alive… or not. Most smoke alarms fail because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Changing the batteries only takes a few minutes and can saves lives.

Follow these important smoke alarm safety measures:

• Make sure smoke alarms are working. Test smoke alarms monthly. Replace batteries once a year (if you didn’t do it when daylight savings began, now is the time) or when you hear a low-battery alarm chirp.

• Have more than one smoke alarm in your home. According the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms should be installed in every level of your home, outside every sleeping area and inside each bedroom.

• Interconnect smoke alarms so if a fire is detected by one, every alarm in your home will sound. Interconnected smoke alarms give early warning for a fire still some distance away or on the other side of a door or wall that might block sound. Interconnection can be accomplished with hard-wiring or broadcast technology.

• Develop and practice a home escape plan. Does everyone in the family know what to do in the event of a fire? Develop and practice a plan that includes at least two escape routes from your home.

NFPA recommends replacing smoke alarms over ten years old. Clearwater citizens can obtain free smoke alarms by contacting Clearwater Fire & Rescue’s Fire Prevention Office at 727-562-4327. We’ll deliver and install them for free. To qualify, the resident must live in a single family home or mobile home in which the resident is the owner.