| Twice a year, in the days leading up to time adjustment for Daylight Savings Time, members of the fire service remind everyone to complete an even more important task in addition to changing their clocks. When you change your clock - change the battery in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well.
According to the United States Fire Administration, every year, approximately 2,600 Americans die in home fires. Over half of these deaths (52%) occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping. Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire are as deadly as heat and flames. Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke can render you unconscious. The majority of fire victims die or are injured from exposure to smoke and toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, not actual burns. In addition, smoke obscures vision, decreasing your ability to escape.
Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by detecting fires early and alerting residents, allowing crucial time for you and your family to escape. The risk of dying from a fire in a home without working smoke alarms is twice as high as in a home that has working smoke alarms.
Please remember when you move your clocks forward this upcoming weekend to reflect the start of Daylight Savings Time; change the batteries in your alarms as well.
Residents are reminded to:
Change the batteries in their smoke and CO alarms at least once-a-year.
Test your alarms monthly by pressing the test button on the face of the alarm cover.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home.
Once your smoke alarm has protected you for 10 or more years - it is time to retire it and obtain a new one.
Plan and practice a home escape in the event of an emergency-designate a safe meeting place outside.
Prince George's County citizens and residents are eligible to have a working smoke alarm installed in their home; free of charge. Call our Safety First Smoke Alarm line at 301-864-SAFE (7233) and make your appointment. |
