Change batteries along with the time
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 3:27 pm The Tennessee State Fire Marshal Gary West is reminding Tennesseans to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend when they set back their clocks Saturday night for daylight saving time.
"Alarms, even those that are hard-wired, should have their batteries replaced regularly and should be tested monthly to ensure they're providing the proper protection," West says. "Use the extra hour we gain this weekend to make sure your home and family are fire-safe."
The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply, narrowing the chances of surviving a fire. The early warning of a smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time a person has to escape a fire in their home.
70 percent of the fire fatalities in Tennessee last year occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. It is critical to install smoke alarms and replace batteries regularly. Twice a year is recommended. This reduces the chance of alarms chirping to indicate low batteries. All too often, a battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home's occupants at risk. There's no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be dangerous.
Here are some helpful tips on the importance of smoke alarms:
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal Gary West is reminding Tennesseans to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend when they set back their clocks Saturday night for daylight saving time.
"Alarms, even those that are hard-wired, should have their batteries replaced regularly and should be tested monthly to ensure they're providing the proper protection," West says. "Use the extra hour we gain this weekend to make sure your home and family are fire-safe."
The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply, narrowing the chances of surviving a fire. The early warning of a smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time a person has to escape a fire in their home.
70 percent of the fire fatalities in Tennessee last year occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. It is critical to install smoke alarms and replace batteries regularly. Twice a year is recommended. This reduces the chance of alarms chirping to indicate low batteries. All too often, a battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home's occupants at risk. There's no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be dangerous.
Here are some helpful tips on the importance of smoke alarms:
The State Fire Marshal's Office is a division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, which works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. Visit our website at www.tn.gov/fire for more fire prevention tips. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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The Tennessee State Fire Marshal Gary West is reminding Tennesseans to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend when they set back their clocks Saturday night for daylight saving time.
"Alarms, even those that are hard-wired, should have their batteries replaced regularly and should be tested monthly to ensure they're providing the proper protection," West says. "Use the extra hour we gain this weekend to make sure your home and family are fire-safe."
The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply, narrowing the chances of surviving a fire. The early warning of a smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time a person has to escape a fire in their home.
70 percent of the fire fatalities in Tennessee last year occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. It is critical to install smoke alarms and replace batteries regularly. Twice a year is recommended. This reduces the chance of alarms chirping to indicate low batteries. All too often, a battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home's occupants at risk. There's no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be dangerous.
Here are some helpful tips on the importance of smoke alarms:
The State Fire Marshal's Office is a division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, which works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. Visit our website at www.tn.gov/fire for more fire prevention tips. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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