FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — During daylight saving time, clocks aren’t the only thing that should be changed. The annual “fall back” also serves as a reminder to change your smoke alarm batteries.
Fayetteville firefighters encourage people to get in the habit of replacing the batteries during daylight saving time because having a working smoke detector could save a life.
“According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 60% of home fatality fires occur in homes with nonworking smoke detectors, and most fires occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.,” Battalion Chief Brian Fenton said.
According to the Red Cross, home fires claim more lives every year than all natural disasters combined, and working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
Chief Fenton said while you should put new batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, you should get a whole new detector every 10 years, and you should test it every month.
“You’ll find a little button on every smoke alarm that says ‘test,’” Chief Fenton said. “You just hold it down for a few seconds and it will give you a few beeps, and that will give you the security knowing that it is in working condition."
The Fayetteville Fire Department recommends having smoke alarms in every sleeping room in your house, on every level, and near every stove or oven.
If you’re in need of a new smoke detector many local fire departments— including Fayetteville— give them out for free.