Fire officials are urging residents to use the return of daylight saving time today as a reminder to change the batteries on their smoke and carbon monoxide monitors.
Home fire deaths occur every three hours, and 66 percent of those deaths occur in homes that don’t have working smoke alarms due to worn out or missing batteries, officials said. A working fire alarm greatly increases your chances of surviving a fire.
Smoke detectors should be placed on every level of your home and outside bedrooms.
They should be tested monthly, and batteries should never be removed for use in other items or to prevent the alarm sounding due to cooking smoke or shower steam. Instead, push the “hush” button, turn on the kitchen fan, open a window or wave a towel near the alarm until it stops making a sound.
Most smoke alarms need a new battery at least once a year. Smoke alarms more than 10 years old should be replaced.
Sara Gaiser, Bay City News
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