This weekend, Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services is urging residents while changing the clocks in their home, to test and change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms too.
“Making sure you have working alarms in your home this weekend is what we like to call daylight ‘safety’ time,” stated Public Educator, Whitney Burk in a media release. “Change your clocks, change your batteries is simple reminder from us to check your alarms when you change your clocks.”
Press the button, replace batteries, and make sure everyone in your home knows how to get out and where to meet if the alarm sounds. It is also important to check the manufacture date on alarms. It is required that they be replaced every 10 years or as per manufacturers instructions.
“Even if the alarm appears functional the sensors begin to lose sensitivity as the alarm ages,” explains Burk. “The test button only confirms that the battery, electronics, and alert system are working.”
In order to escape quickly and safely from a fire or a carbon monoxide leak, early detection is key and an expired alarm may not give that necessary level of protection.
CKFES offers free CHiRP Home Safety Checks, where firefighters will come to your home check your alarms and chat about fire safety with you and your family. To request a CHiRP Check call 519-360-1998 or email ckfire@chatham-kent.ca
