Fire Safety Article
Change Your Clocks, Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries
Montana State Fire Marshal Allen Lorenz reminds Montanans to check the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks to Daylight Savings Time each spring.
Many homes have smoke alarms with nine-volt batteries that should be replaced at least twice each year. Long-life lithium batteries have a life span of up to 10 years and so don't need to be replaced as often.
"The key is to take a few minutes to check, test and clean your smoke alarms to make sure they are functioning properly," Lorenz said. "A good way to remember is to do this whenever you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time."
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 70 percent of all home fire deaths occur in homes with no alarms or no working alarms. In these cases, the alarms were missing batteries, the batteries were dead, or they had been disconnected. In Montana during 2004, 87 percent of fire deaths occurred in homes that did not have smoke alarms or in which the smoke alarms were not in working condition.
"Having a working smoke alarm more than doubles someone's chances of surviving a fire," Lorenz said.
General safety guidelines include:
- Install smoke alarms in your home if you don't already have them. An alarm located between the sleeping area and the living area offers a minimum amount of protection. For maximum protection, install an alarm in every room, on every level of your home.
- Replace smoke alarms periodically. Smoke alarms lose sensitivity over time and should be replaced every 10 years.
- Check alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to check your alarm and, if it doesn't sound, replace the batteries. If this doesn't solve the problem, replace the unit. Nine-volt batteries should be changed at least twice a year.
- Periodically clean smoke alarms using a vacuum attachment. This removes particles that could interfere with the alarm's proper operation.
- Replace "chirping" alarms. This sound indicates that the batteries are weak and need to be replaced.