Home alarms need to be checked
Hoping spring will arrive, southern Albertans will be setting their clocks, watches and electronic devices ahead this weekend.
They should also remember to refresh their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire officials say.
Fire prevention officer Troy Hicks says those alarms helped prevent injury or death at a number of emergency incidents in Lethbridge last year.
Firefighters responded to more than 120 calls where smoke detectors alerted residents to call 911 and get out of the building, he reports. They also dealt with eight calls last year where carbon monoxide detectors proved their worth.
It’s called “the silent killer,” Hicks says, because carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless gas that can be poisonous — or worse.
“A carbon monoxide detector is the best way to protect your and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning,” caused by defects in heating or cooking equipment. “They should be installed where they can be easily heard, he adds, outside bedrooms and on each level of the home.”
But like all equipment, they need to be maintained. As well as replacing their batteries, Hicks urges residents to check for expiration dates — generally, 10 years after purchase.
Families should also test the devices monthly, he adds, and ensure everyone knows how they sound and how to respond.