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You just can’t trust an old smoke detector

Research by the National Fire Protection Association shows that most American homes have at least smoke detector, but only a small percentage of residents know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced.

That’s a concern for the Canastota Fire Department and the Town of Lenox fire marshal, because smoke alarms don’t last forever.

Time and again, I’ve seen the life-saving impact smoke alarms can have in a home fire, but I’ve also seen the tragedy that can result when smoke alarms aren’t working properly. That’s why we’re making a concerted effort to educate the Town of Lenox residents about the overall importance of smoke alarms, and that they do have a life limit.

The National Fire Alarm Code, requires smoke alarms to be replaced at least every 10 years, but because the public is generally unaware of this requirement, many homes have smoke alarms past their expiration date, putting people at increased risk.

As the sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, NFPA is promoting this year’s campaign, “Don’t Wait — Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years,” to educate the public.

To find out how old your smoke alarm is and its expiration date, look on the back of the alarm where the date of manufacture is marked. The smoke alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date (not the date of purchase). Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, and the batteries should be replaced twice a year. A good rule of thumb is when you change the clocks for daylight saving time, change your smoke detector battery. Always change the battery when it begins to chirp, signaling that the battery is low.

The Canastota Fire Department will be visiting local elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9-15 to provide our children with lifelong lessons dealing with fire prevention. There will be many topics discussed including the importance of working smoke detectors and how to escape your home should there be a fire. Please sit down with your children and ask them what they have learned.

For more information on smoke alarms and this campaign, visit www.firepreventionweek.org. form available Oct. 1, the income data used in the process has been reconstructed to use a lagged year, which is commonly referred to as prior-prior year data. For example, parents with college-bound students who plan to enroll in the 2017-18 academic year will use income data from their 2015 tax returns when they complete their FAFSA on or after Oct. 1, 2016.

Previously, many parents have decided to not complete the FAFSA because, in addition to the inconvenience, they believed their child would not receive any need-based aid. In 2014, there were 1.4 million students who graduated high school and did not complete the FAFSA. It’s estimated approximately half of those graduates would have been eligible for a Pell grant.

Students and parents who skip the FAFSA are also unable to access to federal student loans, which typically carry terms and rates beneficial to student-borrowers.

Many college financial aid offices encourage students to complete their FAFSA early to ensure they are awarded their fair share of merit-based grants and scholarships. Some of this aid is awarded “first-come, firstserved,” which may put late applicants at a disadvantage.

With the form now available Oct. 1, many experts re hoping financial-aid award letters will be distributed earlier, giving parents and students more time to evaluate their options from each college, to make the best fiscal decision.

At M&T Bank, we encourage families to complete the FAFSA as close to Oct. 1 as possible — and the good news is it will be an easier task than in years past.

Students can learn more about the FAFSA process and apply at https://fafsa.ed.gov.