As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 6, the Danville Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives—changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. 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 is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years from the manufacturers’ date. The date can be found on the back of the alarms.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Danville, the Danville Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 26th year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery? campaign.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says Fire Marshal Shelby Irving. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
In addition, Fire Marshal Irving recommends residents to take the time to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out” and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
The Danville Fire Department’s “Get Alarmed Danville” program is responsible for saving 89 lives in 32 homes since 1999. A recent save was recorded on October 26, 2016 where four occupants were notified of a fire in their home by alarms installed by the Danville Fire Department.
The “Get Alarmed Danville” program provides smoke alarms and batteries to residents of the city free of charge. Energizer donated 450 nine-volt batteries to the department in October to maintain installed alarms.
For additional information regarding fire safety, visit the Danville Fire Department on the City of Danville website: www.danville-va.gov or contact the Danville Fire Marshals’ offices: 799-5226.
