Daylight savings is Sunday, March 8 and when you change your clocks, it is also a great time to inspect, test, and clean your smoke alarm.

Today there are many types of battery powered smoke alarms available in the marketplace. Most of the smoke alarms seen in homes today will still have 9 volt batteries that should be replaced each fall, or if the alarm is chirping. Newer alarms may use a lithium battery which can work for up to three (3) years without changing the battery, and others may have a sealed unit, which are good for 10 years. Whichever model you have, periodic maintenance and testing are essential.

According to the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research, working smoke alarms reduce the chance of dying in a fire in half. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Children, seniors and those with medical issues require extra time to escape. Home smoke alarms can alert people in and outside of the home to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to escape.”

How you can help save a life:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.