Daylight-saving time ends Sunday, November 6, and marks the 24th anniversary of the "Change Your Clock Change Your Battery" program. This event prompts residents to change and test the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
The Columbus Fire Department reminds citizens that one easy step can save their
life and the lives of family, friends, and neighbors. Fire Chief Dean Hefti encourages
individuals to use the extra hour they gain from daylight-saving time to change
the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test to make sure the devices
are in operational order.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year, but everyone can
work together to help reduce the number of home fire fatalities. Non-working smoke
alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed
to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing
batteries.
Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, testing those alarms and reminding
others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these
tragic deaths and injuries. Additionally, the International Association of Fire
Chiefs recommends that smoke alarms in homes should be replaced every 10 years and
having both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms are best to alert people
to all types of home fires.