| Daylight saving time begins this weekend on March 10, signaling the unofficial start of spring.
As you set the clocks forward, you're also urged to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and replace the batteries.
The Skippack Fire Company urges you to install smoke alarms equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries that last for 10 years. These alarms do not require any battery changes during their lifespan and are nearly impossible to disable.
Here are some smoke alarm tips:
- Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, in each bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. Families should also develop and practice a home fire escape plan.
- If you have an alarm with a removable battery, be sure to check the batteries every six months, and change the batteries every year. If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you. Do NOT disable the unit.
- Vacuum or blow out any dust that might have accumulated in the unit.
- Never borrow a battery from an alarm to use somewhere else.
- Never paint a smoke or CO alarm.
- Smoke alarms should not be installed near a window because drafts could interfere with their operation.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. |
