Friday, October 31, 2014
Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS - When folks set their clocks backward one hour this Sunday, it’s important to remember to also change the batteries in their home smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 2 this year, and the change in time is a good time to change the batteries in your alarms.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than one-third (38 percent) of all home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, while one-quarter (24 percent) resulted from fires in homes in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate.
Simple Home Fire Safety Tips:
- When you change your clocks, change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This can help save lives.
- Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly to make sure they are working.
- Have at least one working smoke alarm on each level of your home. Minnesota law requires every home to have at least one smoke alarm per level. In new construction, a smoke alarm must be installed in each sleeping room and in a point centrally located in the corridor. These alarms must be interconnected.
- Plan, discuss and practice an escape route with your family for dangerous situations such as home fires, carbon monoxide leaks and natural disasters.
- Do not to ignore the chirping sound your smoke alarm makes. A chirping detector means that the battery needs to be replaced, or that it's time to replace the detector.
- Carbon monoxide detectors are NOT substitutes for smoke alarms and should be placed within 10 feet of every bedroom.