Replace batteries in alarms when changing clocks
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday
As residents roll their clocks back one hour this weekend, they are reminded by the Forrest City Fire Department to also change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
FCFD Chief Shane Dallas said that in addition to checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly, people should remember to change the batteries each time they change the clocks.
"The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you change your batteries in your smoke detectors every six months," said Dallas. "That would be twice per year, so by changing them during Spring Forward and Fall Back with the time, they get changed twice per year. This helps prevent loss of life in house fires. These detectors are in place to alert you of a possible fire within the home, and the faster you can be alerted to the possibility, the faster you can react to it."
Dallas said fires are not the only life-threatening issues that require a detector for early warnings.
"I used to only remind people to get smoke detectors and to keep fresh batteries in them, however, after seeing loss of life due to carbon monoxide poisoning, I definitely recommend getting a carbon monoxide detector for your home as well," said Dallas. "Change these batteries at the same time you change your smoke alarm batteries and check them monthly. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so you can't see or smell it coming and it can be deadly."
According to Dallas, while the FCFD does not have carbon monoxide detectors that they can install, but the department continues to install free smoke detectors.
"Those who do not have smoke or carbon monoxide detectors can find them in stores together as one unit," said Dallas. "They also have them with 10year lithium batteries built into them so that after 10 years, you can throw the whole thing out and replace it. We are also still installing fire alarms into homes when people call and request that service. We do not have carbon monoxide detectors that we can install, but we will still install fire alarms. The only requirement is that you have to live within the city limits of Forrest City."
Dallas said that through a partnership with the American Red Cross, the department is also able to promote fire safety throughout the community during installation of these smoke detectors.
"We get these alarms through a partnership with the American Red Cross," said Dallas. "They give us smoke detectors for us to install free of charge to help promote fire protection, prevention and safety in our community. These detectors have a 10-year lithium battery in them so that they only need to be replaced after 10-years, when the entire detector has reached its end of life.
“We have even begun checking the smoke detectors in homes when we go on medical calls,” said Dallas. “Once we get there and get our job taken care of, we will ask if we may check their smoke detectors and if they do not have any, we keep some on the truck so that we can go ahead and install them with their permission."
According to Dallas, when residents receive a smoke detector, they also receive a bag from the American Red Cross that includes a graph for the family to use to develop a home fire escape plan, along with other safety materials for the home.
"When we install a smoke detector in a home, we give them a bag that has different reading materials to promote safety for fires and tornados," said Dallas. "The bag contains a tornado safety checklist, a home fire safety checklist and a dry-erase pad to create a fire escape plan for the resident and their family. The bag also has the marker for the pad included as well as information to download the American Red Cross smartphone app."