With Daylight Savings Time set to end on Sunday, Cal Fire is once again encouraging Californians to check that smoke alarms are in working order.
Daylight Savings Time this year ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. Cal Fire typically issues the smoke alarm reminders in the spring and fall, when the time changes occur.
Nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms.
To help reduce your chances of becoming a victim, Cal Fire is reminding all Californians to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.
A little attention to these devices goes a long way to increasing your chance of surviving a devastating fire, the agency said.
“When a fire strikes, a working smoke alarm gives you that valuable warning that could save your life,” advises State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover.
Smoke alarm safety tips:
– Place properly installed and maintained smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
– Interconnected smoke alarms are best, because if one sounds, they all sound.
– Get smoke alarms that can sound fast to all types of fires. Cal Fire recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
– Inspect, test and clean smoke alarms and change alkaline batteries at least once every year, or when the alarm signals (“chirps”) the end of the battery life. You can use a date you already know, like your birthday or when you change your clocks as a reminder.
– Follow manufacturer’s instructions if you have a 10-year smoke alarm which uses a long-life lithium battery.
– Never paint over a smoke alarm.
– Replace your smoke alarm at least every 10 years.
– Practice exit drills so everyone understands what to do when they hear a smoke alarm.
Keep your smoke alarm working. Cal Fire urged residents to never remove the batteries from their smoke alarms.
For more information on smoke alarms, visit www.fire.ca.gov .
Cal Fire urges Californians to check their smoke alarms
- Lake County News reports
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