Tomorrow is the start of Daylight Saving Time, when we “spring forward” an hour in an attempt to save some energy. To that end, before you go to bed tonight, set your clock ahead one hour. And as you set your clocks ahead, the state fire commissioner reminds you of another task that may need to be done.
PA Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego reminds everyone via news release to change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms while changing the clocks this weekend. Trego said that malfunctioning, discharged or missing batteries were the number one cause of malfunctions in those alarms. When they are working, smoke alarms can decrease the risk of dying in a home fire by as much as 50%.
Carbon Monoxide alarms are also important, as carbon monoxide can incapacitate a person before they’re aware of what’s going on. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headaches, disorientation and fatigue.
While newer models of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are marketed with long-lasting batteries, sometimes the batteries do not need changing, but many people still use models that use standard batteries, so those batteries need to be replaced regularly.
