Change your Clock, Change your Batteries

When the autumn time change approaches, the Foster City Fire Department urges residents to make another change that could save their lives - changing the batteries in their smoke alarms.

Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children a day die in home fires 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.

To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Foster City, the Foster City Fire Department urges residents to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing your smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall. "The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10PM and 6AM when most families are sleeping", says Fire Chief Tom Reaves. "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, Chief Reaves recommends residents use the "extra" hour they save from the time change to test smoke alarms 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.