The Lombard Fire Department is reminding residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on March 8th, when changing their clocks for daylight saving time, to help keep their families safe.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that 71% of smoke alarms that failed to operate had missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. This reinforces how important it is to take this time each year to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The Lombard Fire Department reminds you of the importance of batteries not only in smoke alarms, but also the full range of devices that help keep us safe, secure, and comfortable in our homes.
One easy step can help save lives: change your batteries when you change your clocks. Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, testing those alarms and reminding others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries.
“Eighty percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms. It’s a tragic statistic that could be reduced by adopting the simple habit of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program,” says Fire Marshall Perry Johnson.
Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends that smoke alarms in homes should be replaced every 10 years and having both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms are best to alert people to all types of home fires.
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