On March 14, we will “spring ahead” to daylight savings time. For many years the Fire Service along with the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Energizer batteries have used this event to remind people to change the batteries in their Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms. By ensuring that the batteries in these life-saving tools are fresh, you can double your chances of surviving a home fire.

“Having a working smoke detector in your home doubles your chances of surviving a fire in your home,” said Alan Zygmunt the Public Fire and Life Safety Coordinator at the Connecticut Fire Academy. “The cost of replacing the batteries in all of your detectors is a small price to pay for your family’s safety.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA);

·   Between 2012 and 2016 nearly 75% of U.S. households were protected by smoke alarms, and they operated in 88% of the fires.

·   Three out of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

·   When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.

·   Smoke Alarms should be replaced after 10 years and when replacing them, purchase the type with sealed 10 year batteries.

·   For deaf or hard of hearing persons, smoke detectors with a built in bed shaker are recommended.

In addition to checking our Smoke Alarms, now is a good time to review and practice your family’s home escape plan. Understanding ways out of the home, an outside meeting place and how to notify emergency agencies are critical pieces of information for the whole family. For more information on creating a home escape plan go to: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education