October 31, 2014 – As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 2, the
Midland Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives: changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
The Midland Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 26th year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall.
Changing smoke detector batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the Midland Fire Department recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years. Beginning in 2002, all smoke alarms must have a manufacture date marked on the outside of the smoke alarm. If your smoke alarm does not have a manufacture date, then it is more than 10 years old and must be replaced. When replacing your smoke alarms the Midland Fire Department suggests purchasing alarms with 10-year lithium batteries.
In addition to testing fire safety devices, the Fire Department recommends that residents do the following:
• use the extra hour on November 2 to plan and practice escape routes;
• use both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms to alert people to home fires; and
• prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
For more information about fire safety, call the Midland Fire Department at
989-837-3410 or e-mail Midland’s Fire Marshal Josh Mosher at jmosher@midland-mi.org.
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