It’s that time again! Time to spring forward! Sunday, March 12 (2:00 a.m.), marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, which, unfortunately involves moving our clocks one hour ahead. Although no one likes to lose that hour of sleep its a great time for the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department to remind you to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Even though smoke alarms are readily available, approximately two-thirds of home fire deaths in the United States are in properties without working smoke alarms. In nearly a quarter of home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound, and in half of those occasions, the smoke alarm had a missing or disconnected battery.
Having a working smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death in a home fire. Make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every floor, including the basement and in all sleeping areas. Also, make sure that you have a fire escape plan in place to help you and your family get out of the home in case of a fire.
Your escape plan should include:
- Plan of two ways out of every room
- Choose a meeting place outside
- Call the fire department from outside your home
- Practice your plan! Practice!!! Practice!!! Practice!!!
In addition to changing the batteries in alarms detectors this weekend, we recommend that residents also dust or vacuum around their alarms and detectors. Smoke alarms that don’t work or are older than 10 years should be replaced.
If in need, City of Toledo residents are welcome to stop by their neighborhood fire station to obtain new or replacement smoke alarm.
You can visit our Fire Prevention web-page for for further smoke alarm and escape plan information.