The end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend brings an important reminder for families.
It should be a top priority that your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The state fire marshal suggests testing and changing batteries in alarms when setting clocks back.
"To drastically reduce the risk of you or your loved ones dying in a home fire, make it a tradition to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, or install new detectors, if necessary," said State Fire Marshal Julie Secontine.
Three of every five home fire deaths in the United States result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Last year, home fires in Michigan killed more than 104 citizens, and according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, fire departments throughout the state responded to nearly 13,583 home fires in 2015.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 71 percent of smoke alarm failures are a result of missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
The State Fire Marshal along with the NFPA recommend the following:
· Test smoke alarms monthly using the test button.
· Replace batteries once a year or when they begin to chirp, signaling that they're running low.
· Equip your home with multiple smoke alarms in all the bedrooms, outside of each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement.
· Hardwired smoke alarms are more reliable than those powered solely by batteries.
· For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds they all sound.
· Buy newer models of smoke alarms with lithium batteries that will last the life of the unit.
· Replace all smoke alarms at least every 10 years, or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.
Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide alarms need fresh batteries at least once every year, unless they are powered by sealed, 10-year batteries.
Carbon monoxide alarms should be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly.
