Richmond, Va. –
Defense Logistics Agency Installation Support at Richmond, Virginia’s Fire and Emergency Services welcomes its first program of the year for 2017, “Change Your Clock – Change Your Battery”, as Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12.
As a reminder, we encourage you to change batteries in home detectors when you adjust your clocks forward.
Having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home saves lives.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were approximately 501,500 fires in the U. S. in 2015. Other statistics they point out are: home fires cause about $10.3 billion in property damage each year; and, more than 2,685 deaths and 13, 000 injuries are caused by fires each year in our country.
NFPA also reports that while 96 percent of households have one smoke detector or more, 25 percent of home deaths had alarms that didn’t work. These numbers show it’s critical to have detectors installed and ensure they are in working order with strong batteries.
Working smoke alarms give you valuable time to make it out alive if you are ever involved in a fire.
The NFPA a states on their website, “Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan.”
They also have a downloadable smoke alarm plan and other important safety tips about smoke alarms and how they save lives on their website.
Just like smoke detectors, families are encouraged to test and change carbon monoxide detectors batteries during Daylight Saving Time, too. Since carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas, it can make you sick or even kill you or your family members before you even know it is in your home. Having proper working carbon monoxide detectors is the best way to safeguard your loved-ones from this dangerous gas, also known as “the invisible killer.”
Download the NFPA’s safety tip sheet on carbon monoxide as a reference tool to inform you and your family about how to protect your home against the dangers of carbon monoxide.
We hope you take the time to change your clocks and your batteries this weekend. This task, which only takes a few minutes, can save yours or your family’s lives.