For Immediate Release: March 1 2015
Change Your Clocks and Smoke Alarm Batteries Before You go to Bed on March 7th Change your Clock & Batteries before you go to bed on March 8th 2015
Surrey, BC – Two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes without a working smoking alarm, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). Surrey Fire Fighters remind you to not only change your clock when Daylight Savings Time change, 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 President Mike McNamara a fire fighter at Surrey Fire Hall 15. 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 call to 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 McNamara. Carbon monoxide fumes are poisonous and will increase the intensity of a fire if ignited.
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.
Contact: IAFF Local 1271 Office 604.574.5785
