Check your smoke alarms before you ‘spring forward,’ Red Cross, fire commissioner say
SHENANDOAH – As you change your clocks for daylight savings time this weekend, you should also check your smoke alarms and CO detectors, according to the American Red Cross, state fire commissioner, and local fire departments.
“Smoke alarms are your family’s first line of defense against the dangers of fire,” said State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook. “When your family’s safety is threatened by a fire, the early warning provided by a smoke alarm can be the difference between safely exiting your home, and not making it out. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of working smoke detectors, especially for the older adults in your life who may need a little extra time to get out.”
Cook says dead or missing batteries are the most common cause of a smoke or CO alarm malfunction.
He also suggests residents make an escape plan for once your alarm sounds, saying that practicing that plan is critical to ensure a quick exit.
No matter what type of alarms are used in a home, all should be tested monthly, Cook says, including ones hard-wired to a home’s electrical system. Smoke and CO alarms have a life span, and the entire unit should be replaced every ten years with a new one.
Homeowners unsure of how to maintain or install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can call their local fire department for advice.
“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to get out,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “Every second counts when there’s a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When you turn your clocks forward this weekend, test your smoke alarms too to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”
Over the past year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help nearly 5,800 people in Pennsylvania affected by more than 1,400 home fires, which account for most of the about 65,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country.
In Shenandoah, the Red Cross installed 30 alarms in area homes last year.
Other fire safety tips from the Red Cross include:
- Installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas;
- Replacing smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions;
- Practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late;
- Including at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark where everyone can meet.
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