Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries

Dayligh­t Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12 at 2:00 a.m. and it’s a reminder from us here at Midway Fire Rescue to not only “spring forward” one hour, but to also change your batteries in your smoke detectors!

Luckily our phones, computers, and tablets typically change the time themselves, but in the end it’s all up to us to do our parts and keep you and your family safe by checking and changing your smoke alarm batteries.

Smoke alarms that are working properly saves lives and often help to avoid a tragedy. In a recent release, the National Fire Protection Agency said that three out of five home deaths are the result from fire­s where there were no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Another fact by the NFPA said in the United States, home structure fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials make up for 23% of all fatalities, that’s the leading cause of fire-related deaths.

As a rule of thump, an alarm should be properly installed on each and every floor of your home, outside all sleeping areas and in bedrooms.

Tips from Midway Fire Rescue on installing smoke alarms: – Best place to mount your smoke alarm is on the ceiling. – Keep smoke alarms at least 4-6 inches away from the nearest wall. – Always test your newly installed smoke alarm. – If you cannot mount the alarm on the ceiling, install it high on the wall 4-12 inches from the ceiling.