Time to replace smoke detector batteries

NOW THAT SPRING IS HERE and we’ve moved our clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time, we’d like to make our yearly reminder to the public to make another change that could save their lives.

That change is the battery inside household devices that many take for granted — smoke alarms, smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors.

In the U.S., three out of five home fire deaths are caused by fires in homes with no smoke alarms or working smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Smoke alarms provide an early warning of a fire, giving people additional escape time.

In recent years, smoke alarms were present in 74% of homes and sounded in more than half of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments.

In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, more than two of every five of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries.

Dead batteries caused 25% of the smoke alarm failures, according to the association.

The importance of checking and changing the batteries is not only in smoke alarms, but also every device that helps keep us safe and relaxed in our homes.

Think about your smart thermostats, flashlights, home security systems and other critical devices. Many of them have a battery component that must be checked and changed in order to ensure home safety.

And for those who don’t have a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, we urge you to get one. For those who can’t afford one, contact the local Red Cross as they offer to help families get these important devices into their homes.

We can’t stress enough the importance of setting aside a few minutes it takes to ensure these devices are working.

Use the start of spring as a reminder to prioritize the safety of your home.

This simple task protects your home and the people you cherish the most.