Change your clock, Change your battery

Residents are reminded to change their batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as they set their clocks back next weekend. Photo illustration

The Kennett Fire Department urges individuals adopt a "simple life saving change," to change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on Sunday, November 1, when readjusting clocks for the time change.

Fire Marshall, Scott Tutor said, "As a 23 year fire service veteran, I have witnessed first-hand the tragedy and devastation of home fires. It's even more heartbreaking when a young life is cut short."

He added that on average, home fires kill 540 children ages 14 and under each year. Overall, roughly 80 percent of home fire deaths in this country occur in homes without working smoke alarms.

The Kennett Fire Department explained that communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The department added that the most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms was due to worn or missing batteries.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries, according to the department. KFD added that the working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommend replacing smoke alarms every ten years.

To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Kennett, the Kennett Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 22nd year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery Campaign, according to the department. Officials added that the peak time for fire fatalities is between 11 p.m., and 7 a.m., when most families are sleeping.

Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths, according to the department. Also, officials explained that children and senior citizens were the most at risk and working smoke alarms can give these individuals the extra seconds needed to escape safely.

In addition to this information, Tutor recommends residents use the extra hour received from the time change to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by pushing the test button, planning "two ways out," and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries, according to Tutor. He added that during the spring, communities should use the time change on March 14, 2010 as an opportunity to check the batteries in Emergency Power Kits.

According to the Kennett Fire Department, statistic for injuries in fires include; 600 individuals under the age of 20 dying each year in home fires, with children under the age of five being at twice the risk and 80 percent of fatal home fire victims who were children were in homes without working smoke alarms; adults over age 75 being three times more likely to die in home fires than the rest of the population and those over 85 being 4.5 percent more likely to die in a home fire; and low income families unable to afford batteries for smoke alarms and misusing portable or area heating equipment, which is a main cause of fatal home fires.