Daylight Savings Time
The semi-annual event for changing your clocks is a good time to also pay attention to fire safety. The Rochester Fire Department offers these tips.
Check your battery
Checking smoke alarm batteries at least twice a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide.
The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries. In fact, working smoke alarms cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. In addition, experts recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years and we also recommend testing smoke alarms regularly by pushing the test button.
Smoke Detectors should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.
Installation and maintenance tip
A smoke alarm should be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. When installing a smoke alarm, many factors influence where you will place it, including how many are to be installed. Consider placing alarms along your escape path to assist in egress in limited visibility conditions. In general you should place alarms in the center of a ceiling or, if you place them on a wall, they should be 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
Additional information may be requested from the Rochester Fire Department’s Community Outreach Unit at (585) 428-6326. We have various pamphlets available, for your request.
Additional references
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/firewww.html
http://www.statefarm.com/homesafety.htm
http://www.firstalert.com
http://www.energizer.com/learning/FireSafety.asp