St. Tammany Fire District # 1 reminds us… It’s time to “Change Your Clock / Change Your Battery”
SLIDELL, LA., November 05, 2010 – It’s time to change smoke detector batteries. The time change will take effect at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010 and the clocks will be set back one hour. In keeping with the 23 year old national initiative “Change You Clock / Change Your Battery”, St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1 reminds our residents that one easy step can help save their lives and the lives of those around them. Everyone is encouraged to use the extra hour they “gain” from daylight-saving time to change the batteries in their own smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, test the alarms and remind friends, family, neighbors and fellow community members to do the same.
Nationally, 94% of homes have smoke detectors, roughly 70% percent of home fire death’s result from fires in homes with no smoke detectors or no working smoke detectors. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke detectors is dead or missing batteries.
Changing smoke detector batteries twice a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut the risk in half of dying in a home fire. “Working smoke detectors provide an early warning and critical time to escape”, said Chief of Fire Prevention, Neil Ricca. “This is particularly important for those most at risk of dying in a home fire, such as children and the elderly.”
In addition, Chief Ricca recommends residents use the “extra” hour they save from the time change to test smoke detectors by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out” and practicing those escape routes with the entire family.
For more information about fire safety, smoke detectors or to schedule a “Voluntary Home Safety Inspection”, call Neil Ricca, Fire Prevention Chief: 646-4387