For Immediate Release
March 6, 2013
“Change Your Clock / Change Your Battery”
SLIDELL, LA.,– As Daylight Savings Time approaches, St. Tammany Fire
Protection District No. 1 wants to remind residents to make another
change that could save their lives — changing the batteries in their
smoke alarms.
An average of three children a day dies in home fires, and 80 percent
of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly
cited cause of nonworking smoke alarms is dead or missing batteries.
Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the
simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries.
In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a
home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs
recommends replacing your smoke alarms every eight to 10 years.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in St. Tammany Parish,
St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1 has joined forces with the
International Association of Fire Chiefs and Energizer brand batteries
for nearly two decades with the “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery”
campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, life-saving
habit: changing smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks forward to
Daylight Savings Time, this year March 10.
Chad Duffaut, Chief of Fire Prevention, also recommends residents test
smoke alarms by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out” and
practicing those escape routes with the entire family.
For more information about St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1 visit us at
www.slidellfire.org or follow us on Facebook – St. Tammany Fire District #1
and Twitter – @SlidellFire_PIO
Chad Duffaut
Chief of Fire Prevention/PIO
[email protected]
Cell: (985) 960-0976