CHANGE SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES
WHEN TIME CHANGES THIS WEEKEND
Remembering to replace smoke detector batteries when the time changes for daylight savings early Sunday (March 9) will help insure the smoke detectors are in working condition when a fire emergency strikes. Officially, clocks should be moved ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, but many people prefer to take care of changing their clocks before they go to bed on Saturday, which is a great time to also change the batteries in their smoke detectors.
“There is no single safety item more important in your household than a working smoke alarm,” says Reno Fire Marshal Bill Burney noting that “Fires that kill are a sad reality each and every day, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
During just the first three weeks of February 2007, more than 200 people across the nation were killed in home fires, many of which could have been prevented. Inhalation of toxic smoke and gases is the leading cause of deaths in fires.
Burney says “Having a functional smoke alarm in your home reduces your chances of dying in a fire by nearly half.” A working smoke detector can mean the difference between life or death in a fire, he says noting that “properly installed and maintained smoke detectors provide an early warning signal of fire that can allow everyone in the home to escape.”
The minimum protection for homes is one smoke detector outside of each sleeping room, and one on each level of the home including the basement, according to the Reno Fire Department’s Division of Fire Prevention. Smoke detectors are relatively inexpensive and easy to install on ceilings. The Division of Fire Prevention says it’s important to always follow manufacturer’s recommendations for installation and maintenance of smoke detectors
Burney says residents should use batteries recommended by the manufacturer and make sure they are firmly connected to the smoke detector contacts. However, if a smoke detector
starts making a “chirping” noise, it’s a signal battery levels are low and they need to be replaced. Dusting smoke detector surfaces and vacuuming the air vents regularly will keep dust and spider webs from fouling detection elements or causing false alarms.
Since smoke detectors can wear out like most electrical devices, they should be replaced after 8-10 years. Some newer smoke alarms on the market now come with a10-year battery and are designed for replacement of the entire unit at the end of its life.
For more information on smoke detectors and fire safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website at www.nfpa.org, the U.S. Fire Administration website at www.usfa.fema.gov, or call the Reno Fire Department’s Division of Fire Prevention at (775) 334-2300.
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