Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday,
March 9 at 2 a.m., when we spring forward one hour for the purpose of making
better use of daylight. As we set our clocks ahead, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
recommends testing your smoke alarms.
Roughly
two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or working
smoke alarms. When smoke alarms should have worked but failed to operate, it is
usually because batteries were missing, disconnected, or dead. NFPA provides
the following guidelines around smoke alarms:
·
Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the
test button.
·
Make sure everyone in the home understands the
sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
·
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years
old.
·
Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t
respond properly when tested.
·
Smoke alarms with nonreplaceable (long-life)
batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm
chirps, a warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right
away.
·
For smoke alarms with any other type of battery,
replace batteries at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, replace only the
battery.
For
more on smoke alarm safety, check out NFPA’s smoke alarm safety tip sheet, and
new 9-volt battery tip sheet which
explains the importance of storing and disposing of batteries with care to
avoid a fire hazard.
About the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader
in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the
international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide
burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and
advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and
effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed
at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
No comments:
Post a Comment