Local residents are being reminded to make sure some key safety equipment is maintained and in working order as we get ready to ‘Spring forward’ this weekend.
City Fire Prevention Captain Sheri Korn says when you ‘change your clocks, change your batteries’ in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
“We see that there are smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, but a lot of folks forget the importance of maintaining them, to test them regularly and to change the batteries at least once a year,” she says.
She also says it’s important to check the manufacturers date on the units too.
“Not only do we have to ensure there is working batteries but smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms don’t last forever, typically a smoke alarm will last ten years, carbon monoxide alarms seven years,” Korn says.
The clocks move ahead one hour before bed on Saturday night.
Just this past weekend a local family was saved by their sounding carbon monoxide alarm.
In fact, the Embrack family has four of the alarms in their home.
“They went above and beyond the requirement and it saved their lives, it provided them the precious seconds to safely get out of their home,” Korn says.
A carbon monoxide alarm is required outside sleeping areas, by law, if you have a fuel burning appliance in your home or attached garage.
Fire officials recommend having one on every level of the home.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: Carbon Monoxide Detectors, smoke alarms, spring forward