Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) urges residents to change and test the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they change clocks back an hour for the end of daylight savings time on Sunday, Nov.6.
GMFD has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the “Change Your Clock Change Your Battery” campaign, which urges all Americans to adopt the habit of changing smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries when changing clocks back on Sunday, Nov. 6.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) report that approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 66 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
The commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries. IAFC recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.
“Fire fatalities in home fires usually occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” said Bryan Riebe, Glassy Mountain Fire service area chief. “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.”
Chief Riebe also recommends residents test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by pushing the test button, plan and practice escape routes and make sure fellow neighbors and community members do the same.
Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
“The GMFD has some smoke alarms available for those who don’t have them. To request one, contact the headquarters at 864-895-4306,” Riebe adds.
For more information about fire safety, call the GMFD at the number above. For more information on the “Change Your Clock Change Your Battery” program, call the hotline at 314-727-5700 x108, or call the International Association of Fire Chiefs at 703-273-0911 or email corporaterelations@iafc.org.
– article submitted
by Chief Bryan G. Riebe