Spring Ahead On Fire Safety When You Change Your Clocks

Feb. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- When setting the clock an hour ahead March 11 for the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, it’s important to remember to check or change the batteries in your smoke alarm(s). Day or night, a working smoke alarm may one day be the only way to alert you and your family should an unwanted fire ever start in your home.

Whether your smoke alarm is powered by a 10-year lithium or alkaline 9V battery, this weekend is the perfect time to ensure your alarm is powered to keep you safe. A 10-year lithium battery ideally only needs to be changed every 10 years, while alkaline batteries should be changed every six months. Take the opportunity to test your smoke alarm and if it’s not working, change the battery immediately.

Remember, if your smoke alarm ever goes off while you’re cooking or taking a shower, the last thing you want to do is disable it. Instead, open a window or door, or use a towel to wave away the smoke.

In a survey by the National Fire Prevention Association, between 2005 and 2009, smoke alarms sounded in only half of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments, and almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. This goes to show that having a smoke alarm with a dead battery, or one that is disabled, is as potentially dangerous as not having one.

To receive email reminders every six months to check your smoke alarm battery, sign up at Rayovac’s website or Facebook page. Sign up on March 9 and receive a coupon or flashlight gift pack! For more information, visit www.rayovac.com/learning/firesafety or www.facebook.com/rayovac.