On November 7, Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery

When you set your clocks back on November 7, the Northshore Fire Department urges people to use the extra hour to make a life-saving change in your household. Change and test the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and remind your friends, family and neighbors to do the same. This simple act only takes a moment but is one of the best defenses your family has against the devastating effects of a home fire.

Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits they were designed to provide, which is early warning to allow people more time to safely escape. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.

“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 pm and 7 am when most families are sleeping,” says Fire Chief Tom Weathers. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”

In addition to changing the battery at least once a year, test your smoke alarms monthly, and replace smoke alarms every ten years. Remember that a “chirping” smoke alarm is a signal that it needs a fresh battery.

The Northshore Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to recommend also using the “extra” hour to plan and practice home fire escape routes.