State Fire Marshall: When You Change Your Clocks, Check Your Alarms
STOW, Mass. —With the end of daylight savings time coming on Nov. 6, Massachusetts fire officials issued a seasonal reminder to check your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and change the batteries when you change your clocks.
"Working smoke and CO alarms are crucial home safety tools," said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. "As we 'fall back' this weekend, be sure you have the best protection by putting fresh alkaline batteries in alarms that use them and replacing alarms that are out of date."
Today's smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have the manufacturing date printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms should be replaced when they're 10 years old, and CO alarms should be replaced when they're five to seven years old, depending on the model. Unless you have newer alarms with 10-year sealed batteries, this is also a good time to replace the alkaline batteries in all your alarms. Remember to test your smoke and CO alarms once a month to be sure they're working properly.
Heating Season Brings Carbon Monoxide Hazards
Shrewsbury Fire Chief James Vuona, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, emphasized the importance of working carbon monoxide alarms as we enter the colder months.
"Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, and heating equipment is the main source of carbon monoxide in the home," Chief Vuona said. "We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect this invisible killer."
Replacement Alarms Should be Photoelectric With 10-Year Sealed Batteries
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code requires replacement battery-operated smoke alarms in older one- and two-family homes to be photoelectric and have 10-year, sealed batteries and a hush feature. This makes it less likely that someone in the home will use the batteries for another device, forget to change them twice a year, or remove them when cooking causes smoke in the kitchen.
"Disabling a smoke alarm puts you, your loved ones, and everyone in the building at risk," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. "Never remove batteries from a smoke alarm except when putting fresh ones in."
Alarms Should Be Listed by an Independent Lab
Massachusetts requires that all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Listed devices will have the laboratory's mark on the back. In recent years, fire officials have seen a number of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that were purchased online and either have counterfeit marks or no mark at all.
"If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is," said Chief Vuona. "Smoke and CO alarms are important home safety tools. If you're purchasing a new alarm, we recommend choosing one from a well-known, national brand."
Create & Practice a Home Escape Plan
"In the average house fire, you could have less than three minutes to escape after the smoke alarm activates," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. "Creating and practicing a home escape plan that includes two routes out will help you make the most of that precious time to get outside before poisonous gases and heat make escape impossible."
"Working smoke alarms and a practiced home escape plan are among the most fundamental and important tools for surviving a fire," said Chief Vuona. "Be sure everyone in the home knows what to do and where to go when the alarm sounds, including young children, older adults, and persons with disabilities."
Senior SAFE
Adults over 65 are at disproportionate risk of dying in a fire at home. Hundreds of fire departments across Massachusetts have grant-funded Senior SAFE programs that may provide assistance with alarm installation and testing. Seniors who need help testing, maintaining, or replacing smoke alarms should contact their local fire department or senior center for assistance.
For more information on smoke alarms or the Senior SAFE program, visit www.mass.gov/dfs or contact your local fire department.
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