Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery

On Friday, the launched their bi-annual “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign. All five North Shore fire stations are displaying a banner as a reminder to change the battery in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” is a reminder that batteries in all detection devices should be replaced twice a year, once in spring and once in the fall.

The National Fire Protection Association's 2011 fire report identified that U.S. fire departments responded to 390,000 fires that occurred in residential occupancies. Of the 3,000 fatalities caused by fire, 2,500 of the fatalities occurred in residential occupancies with the highest percentage of fatalities occurring between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are sleeping. The key to surviving a fire in your home is to be prepared, all homes should be equipped a working smoke detectors on every level of the home including inside each sleeping area as well as directly outside of the sleeping areas.

Tips for placing and maintaining smoke detectors

INSTALL smoke detectors inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Larger homes may need additional smoke alarms to provide enough protection. Smoke detectors should be installed per the manufacturer’s directions.

CHECK all smoke detectors once per month. A smoke detector can be checked by pressing the test button on the detector; once the button is depressed the detector should sound. If the detector does not sound, replace the battery, and then repeat testing procedure. If the detector does not operate after replacing the battery, replace the detector.

CHANGE the batteries in the smoke detector twice per year. Daylight savings is a good reminder, change your clock, change your battery.

REPLACE all smoke detectors that are ten years old or greater. A manufacturing date should appear on the detector, if no date is present the detector should be replaced immediately.

Your home should also be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector on each level, including the basement and outside of the sleeping areas. Labeled the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause headaches and dizziness, but persons that are sleeping can fall into a deeper sleep without realizing what is happening, carbon monoxide detection devices are the only way to ensure you will be provided with early warning. 

Tips for installing and maintaining carbon monoxide detectors

INSTALL carbon monoxide detector on each level including the basement and outside of the sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed per the manufacturer’s directions.

CHECK all carbon monoxide detectors once per month. A carbon monoxide detector can be checked by pressing the test button on the detector; once the button is depressed the detector should sound. If the detector does not sound, replace the battery, and then repeat testing procedure. If the detector does not operate after replacing the battery, replace the detector.

CHANGE the batteries in all carbon monoxide detectors twice per year. Daylight savings is a good reminder, change your clock, change your battery.

REPLACE all carbon monoxide detectors per the manufacturer’s directions. If the directions are no longer in your possession you may be able to find this information on the detector, or a contact number for the manufacturer. If you are unable to determine the age of the detector, it should be replaced.

ALL DETECTION DEVICES SHOULD BE APPROVED BY UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY (UL).