[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp
(573) 874-7557 (Office)
(573) 499-7035 (Media Pager)

Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery

COLUMBIA, MO (October 31, 2011) - (Columbia, MO) With the change from Daylight Savings Time (DST) to Central Standard Time (CST) occurring this weekend, remember to set your clock back one (1) hour. And while you're changing your clocks - make sure you take time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms too!

"Eighty percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms.It's a tragic statistic that could be reduced by adopting the simple habit of the ChangeYour Clock Change Your Battery program," says Chief Charles Witt Jr. of the Columbia Fire Department. 

A recent study by the National Fire Protection Association found that roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Key findings from the report include:

*The death rate per 100 fires was twice as high in homes without a working smoke alarms.

*Out of all home fire deaths, 38 percent resulted from fires in which NO smoke alarm was present.

*Hardwired smoke alarms are more reliable than smoke alarms powered only by batteries.

*Many existing homes do not have adequate numbers of smoke alarms installed.

The Columbia Fire Department and NFPA recommendations include:

*Install smoke alarms in each and every sleeping room, outside each sleeping room in the corridor, and a smoke alarm on each level of the home including the basement.

*For the best protection, install interconnected smoke alarms so that when one sounds, all of the smoke alarms sound. New technology includes smoke alarms with wireless technology so wiring is not required to interconnect the alarms.

*Use a smoke alarm that is listed as both photoelectric and ionization, otherwise known as dual sensor alarms.

*Replace smoke alarms when they are ten (10) years old.

*Test your smoke alarm each month by pushing the test button.

*Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm each year. Or better yet, install smoke alarms with sealed ten (10) year lithium batteries which do not require annual replacement.

Protect your family's life and your property by ensuring you have working smoke alarms.  If you cannot afford a smoke alarm, contact the Columbia Fire Department by calling (573) 874-7556 to see if you qualify for free smoke alarm(s) through the Share the Light program.


 -30- 

______________________________________________________

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia’s Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at:
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/
______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/