On Sunday, March 10, clocks “spring forward” to start Daylight Savings time. This change should also prompt the change of batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and the inspection of fire extinguishers.“The biannual tradition of Daylight Savings is the ideal time to remind residents to change the batteries whenever we change the clocks,” explained Livingston Fire Chief Christopher Mullin. “When smoke alarms or detectors fail to operate, it’s usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.”Chief Mullin advises homeowners who may have purchased newer “Ten-Year Sealed Battery” detectors that once detectors are activated upon initial installation, there is no need to replace the batteries. Tenyear sealed battery detectors are designed to operate using a “sealed” battery, so attempting to open or change the battery will render the detector useless, and it will have to be discarded.Smoke DetectorsWorking smoke alarms greatly reduce the likelihood of residential fire-related fatalities by providing an early audible warning, alerting occupants, and giving them an opportunity to escape to safety.According to the National Fire Protection Association, that is critical because three of every five residential fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms (38 percent), or without working smoke alarms (21 percent), and the majority occur at night when most people are sleeping. A properly installed and tested smoke detector with a fresh battery is one of the simplest and most effective things residents can do to protect themselves and their family from a home fire. All smoke detectors should be mounted with screws and positioned within ten feet of bedrooms and at each level of the house, including the basement (at the bottom of the stairs).Industry standards call for smoke detectors to be replaced every ten years and carbon monoxide detectors to be replaced every five to seven years. Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous because there is no smoke or odor to give residents a warning that something is wrong. These lethal, colorless, and odorless fumes are often associated with an improperly vented furnace, hot water heater, and generators powered by gasoline or kerosene.Carbon MonoxideAs the temperature begins getting warmer, the chance of exposure to carbon monoxide increases as residents attempt to keep warm by running heating systems more frequently and finding alternate or supplemental heating sources. There is also the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning from warming up the car in an enclosed garage, as the exhaust fumes contain large ...
