Change Your Clock, Check Your Alarms this weekend

STOW, MA – (editor’s note: Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday at 2 AM. Set clocks back 1 hour before going to bed Saturday night. If you have not upgraded to the new 10 year smoke alarms, check your batteries).

“In 2016, 17 people died in home fires where there no working smoke alarms” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “We change our clocks on Sunday, November 5, so remember, when you change your clocks, check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” he added. “Smoke alarms give us the early warning we need in the event of a fire. Not only do you need smoke alarms, but you need to make sure they are working,” Ostroskey said.

One of the best things we can do as we get our homes ready for winter, is to check our smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. In a fire, time is your enemy and working smoke alarms give you precious time to use your home escape plan before poisonous gases and heat make escape impossible. A working smoke alarm is your first line of defense.

Replace Aging Smoke & CO Alarms

No appliance lasts forever. “When checking your alarms see if they need to be replaced. Smoke alarms last about 10 years and older carbon monoxide alarms last 5-7 years,” said the Marshal.

10-Year Alarms

There are some new smoke and CO alarms that come with a sealed 10-year lithium battery. The batteries in these alarms never need changing. You just replace the entire alarm every ten years.

For more information on smoke alarms in Massachusetts contact your local fire prevention office or go to: www.mass.gov/dfs and type Smoke Alarms in the search box.

Media release furnished by Mass Department of Fire Services



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy