It's hard to believe that Daylight Saving Time begins tomorrow, Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 2AM. As we prepare to "Spring Forward" and set our clocks an hour ahead, the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) has joined forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to recommend testing your smoke alarms.
Approximately two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. When smoke alarms should have worked but failed to operate, it is usually because batteries were missing, disconnected, or dead.
Here are some helpful guidelines, courtesy of the NFPA, to follow around the use of smoke alarms:
•Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
•Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
•Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
•Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t respond properly when tested.
•Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, a warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
•For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
For more information on smoke alarm safety, please see the attached smoke alarm safety tips sheet or visit www.nfpa.org.
