While it’s always welcome to get an extra hour of sleep, local firefighters remind area residents that the end of Daylight Savings Time early Sunday doesn’t just mean extra shuteye, but the time to replace batteries in their smoke detectors.
Two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes without a working smoking alarm, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). Coatesville Firefighters (IAFF Local 3790) remind you to not only change your clock for Daylight Savings Time (Sunday November 6, 2016) but the batteries in your smoke alarms, too.
“Saving your life can be as simple as changing your smoke alarm batteries once a year and replacing smoke alarms every seven to 10 years,” says Jim Lentz, a 16 year veteran firefighter with IAFF Local 3790. Special smoke alarms are even available for those who are deaf or hearing-impaired.
The NFPA reports that working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. Research has also demonstrated that photoelectric smoke alarms are more effective at warning people of smoke from smoldering fires than ionization smoke alarms. With earlier warning, people have more time to escape a burning structure and to call 9-1-1.
Your local fire fighters recommend installing a dual purpose smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside of every bedroom and on each floor of your home.
“You should also install carbon monoxide alarms in your home and check them once a month,” says Mike Pawlowski, Coatesville IAFF President. Carbon monoxide (CO) – an invisible poisonous gas that has no odor can be lethal and CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
More than 2,300 people die each year in home fires. Having a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm that works 24 hours a day greatly increases your chance of survival if your home catches on fire.
In the case of an emergency, please call 9-1-1 for the help of your local fire fighters.
