Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 5. As you turn your clocks back, the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System would like to remind residents to change the battery in their smoke alarms. When properly installed and maintained, working smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire. You double your chances of surviving a home fire with working smoke alarms compared to homes without working smoke alarms. (Smoke Alarms Save Lives).
Facts
NFPA’s Home Structure Fires (April 2023) & Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2021 (September 2022) states:
Safety Tips
Deadly house fires often occur late at night and early morning (11 p.m. – 7 a.m.) when individuals are sleeping. Therefore, it is imperative that smoke alarms be properly installed and maintained to protect against injury and the loss of life. To keep you and your family safe follow these life-saving smoke alarm tips:
Smoke alarms can often sound while cooking or taking a shower that emits large amounts of steam. If a smoke alarm sounds during these types of activities, DO NOT remove or disable the battery; creating a minor fix can lead to a deadly mistake. Instead you should:
Smoke Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
There are special designed smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing, i.e. vibrating alarms or visual alarms equipped with flashing strobe lights. It is vital that this audience is aware of the availability of these types of smoke alarm devices as well as the importance of a proper 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 www.hearingloss.org/.
Additional Safety Tips
In addition, we urge families to develop and practice, regularly, a home fire escape plan and be sure everyone in your household knows what the smoke alarm sounds like, what to do and where to go in the event there is a fire.
*Note: When changing the batteries in your smoke alarm, it’s also important to 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, visit the National Fire Protection Association www.nfpa.org and the U.S. Fire Administration www.usfa.fema.gov.
For additional information on home fires, visit NFPA’s Home Structure Fires (April 2023) and Fire Loss in the United States During 2021.