Ventura County Fire Department

Daylight Savings Time begins on March 8 this year, and changing your clocks is a good reminder to change the batteries in your smoke alarms according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The evidence is clear: smoke alarms save lives, but they must be properly installed and in working order to do that. The U.S. Fire Administration reported that, in the four-year period 2000-2004, 65 percent of the deaths in home fires occurred in homes that either had no smoke alarms, or had smoke alarms that were not working.
“Smoke alarms save lives,” said Ventura County Fire Department Captain Ron Oatman. “Having working smoke alarms in your home greatly increases your chances of surviving a fire. It’s as simple as that.”

Keeping fresh batteries in your smoke alarms can save lives, but there are other ways to make sure your smoke alarm is working efficiently:
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Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years; aging smoke alarms don’t operate as efficiently and are frequently responsible for “nuisance” alarms.
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Test units at least once a month. Use the “test” button on the device or an approved smoke substitute, never use an open flame.
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Periodically clean your smoke alarms (follow the manufacturer’s instructions).
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Place smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home, including the basement. An alarm in the garage is a good idea as well.
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Alarms should be mounted on the wall 4-12 inches from the ceiling, and ceiling-mounted alarms should be placed four inches from the nearest wall. On a vaulted ceiling, mount the alarm at the highest point of the ceiling.
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Make sure everyone in the household knows the sound the alarm makes and what to do if they hear it.
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Have an escape plan for your home and designate a meeting place outside the home to account for family members in the event of an emergency.
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Never “borrow” smoke alarm batteries or disconnect them from the device.
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Never paint a smoke alarm.
As Daylight Savings Time begins, change your clocks and change your smoke alarm batteries, too. You might be saving more than daylight.