March 14 marks the transition from standard time to the much anticipated Daylight Savings Time. This is also the time of year we recommend homeowners and residents change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they continue to operate properly.”In addition to changing batteries, we strongly recommend that residents test their smoke alarms and CO detectors to ensure they’ll work as designed when needed,” said Battalion Chief Cory Galacia of the Falcon Fire Protection District. “Smoke alarms and CO detectors save lives, prevent injuries and minimize property damage, but they must be installed properly and checked regularly.”According to the National Fire Protection Association, one in five homes has smoke alarms that don’t work properly because of dead, missing or disconnected batteries. “We can’t overemphasize the importance of changing batteries in smoke alarms and CO detectors at least twice a year,” said Falcon Fire Department Chief Trent Harwig. “Changing batteries in the spring and fall, such an easy task to do when we change our clocks, has the potential to save lives and property,” Harwig said.The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly half of the nation’s fire deaths occur in the 4 percent of homes that don’t have smoke alarms, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission says the risk of dying in homes without smoke alarms is twice as high as it is in homes that have working smoke alarms. “Falcon Fire Protection District residents can increase their chances of surviving a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning by installing and maintaining relatively inexpensive smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors,” said Battalion Chief Galacia.There are two types of smoke alarm technologies and residents should do some research to determine the best technology for their home.
- Ionization sensing alarms could detect invisible fire particles (associated with fast flaming fires) sooner than photoelectric alarms.
- Photoelectric sensing alarms could detect visible fire particles (associated with slow smoldering fires) sooner than ionization alarms.
- Install smoke alarms in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, such as on every floor of your home, in hallways, inside bedrooms and outside of sleeping areas.
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years or in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Test your smoke alarm according to the manufacturer’s instructions and replace batteries twice a year.
- Gently vacuum your smoke alarm monthly to prevent dirt from blocking the sensor.
- Don’t disable a smoke alarm in nuisance situations.
- Don’t replace smoke alarm batteries with batteries that have been used in toys, radios or other devices.
- On average, families have less than three minutes from the time the first smoke alarms sounds to escape a fire.
- The sooner you hear an alarm, the more time you have to get out of your home.
