GAINESVILLE - Standard Time returns Sunday morning and fire officials are urging that you check your smoke alarms this weekend, too, to make sure they are working.
Remember, with the clock we "fall back." Clocks should be set back one hour Saturday night. Standard Time officially returns at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle says of those alarms that use a 9-volt battery, replace the battery with a new one. "That way you will always be sure to have a fresh battery operating this life saving device."
About one-quarter of all smoke alarms that are installed in residences are not working due to a dead or missing battery. About 40 percent of all fire deaths occur in homes where the smoke alarm is not working.
Cagle says many times people will remove the battery due to nuisance alarms or continuous alarming. This may be from steam from the kitchen or the bathroom, or even dust from heating equipment. Instead of removing the battery, he says to wave a towel in front of the alarm, or fan it. "This will cause the alarm to stop sounding without sacrificing your smoke alarm protection."
Cagle also says take a moment and check the inside of the alarm to make sure it is free of dust or other materials that would keep it from operating efficiently. And, if your alarm is more than 10 years old, replace it with a new one.
"For those that have alarms with long lasting lithium batteries, take this opportunity to check the alarm to make sure that it is working properly. While the battery may not need replacing, it is still important to check the operation of the alarm on a regular basis."
On another fire safety note, Cagle says now is the time, with the colder weather, to have your heating equipment checked for proper operation.
"When using space heaters, remember that they need space as well â
Thursday
October 10th, 2024
6:21AM
