Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/91307
Sarasota News Leader November 2, 2012 CHANGE SMOKE ALARMS AND WEATHER RADIO BATTERIES The end of Daylight Saving Time and the start of Eastern Standard Time on Nov. 4, when clocks get turned back one hour, serves as a reminder that it is time to change smoke alarms and weather batteries, Sarasota Coun- ty Emergency Management officials are telling the public. Approximately 70 percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms, a coun- ty news release says. Smoke alarms can save lives, but only when they are working correct- ly, the release points out. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm will provide an early warning signal to a family, providing the chance to escape. Weather radios also are as important as smoke alarms in saving lives. For additional information regarding weather radios, contact the Sarasota County Call Cen- ter at 861-4000 and ask for Sarasota County Emergency Management. If you cannot afford a smoke alarm or want more information on smoke alarms, contact the Call Center and ask for the Sarasota County Fire Prevention Office. According to Interim Fire Marshal Don Damron, the fol- lowing safety tips could save lives: • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both inside and out- side any sleeping areas, especially if you sleep with your bedroom door closed. • Make it a habit to replace the batteries in your smoke alarm when you adjust your clocks for the time change. Make sure to mark the second Sunday of March on your calendar when you set your clocks forward one hour. • Keep smoke alarms clean. Dust can interfere with how your smoke alarm works. Regularly vacuum over your smoke alarm. • The "chirping" noise you may hear could mean your battery is low. Replace the battery right away. • Replace your smoke alarms about every 10 years. They do wear out, so write the purchase date with a marker on the back of your smoke alarm. That way you know when it should be replaced. Page 62