Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 10th. As you turn your clocks forward, the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System would like to remind residents to change the battery in your smoke alarms. When properly installed and maintained, working smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire. They play a vital role in one's home fire escape plan by providing an early warning allowing individuals time to escape a home fire. You double your chances of surviving a home fire with working smoke alarms compared to homes without working smoke alarms.
To keep you and your family safe follow these life-saving smoke alarm tips:
If a smoke alarm sounds during activities that emit large amounts of steam, such as taking a shower or cooking, DO NOT remove or disable the battery. Instead:
Smoke Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The deaf and hard of hearing community need specially designed smoke alarms. It's also vital they're aware of the importance of a proper home fire escape plan. For more information on smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing, contact the Hearing and Loss Association of America at 301-657-2248 or visit http://www.hearingloss.org/.
Additional Safety Tips
When changing the batteries in your smoke alarm, change the batteries in your NOAA All Hazard/Weather Radio. Hazardous weather conditions can develop at any time - Be Prepared! Preparation is your best defense!
For more information on smoke alarm safety and how to prevent home fires, visit the National Fire Protection Association www.nfpa.org and the U.S. Fire Administration www.usfa.fema.gov.