Check Smoke Alarms When You Spring Forward Tonight

The Astoria Fire Department would like to urge residents to test their smoke alarms when they change their clocks this Sunday.  The spring tradition of changing clocks an hour forward, serves as a good reminder for all residents to test their smoke alarms.

 

The national slogan “Change your clock, Change your battery” does not apply to Oregon residents who have ionization smoke alarms.  Ionization-only smoke alarms are solely battery powered and equipped with a hush feature and a 10-year battery.  Other types of smoke alarms are sold with either a long-life lithium battery or a standard-life battery.

 

To make sure your smoke alarm is working properly, do the following:

·        Push the test button to be sure the battery is working.

·        Vacuum the alarm to remove any dust or cobwebs.

·        Inspect your alarm to determine the manufacture date.  If your smoke alarm is 10 years or older, or is not working properly, it should be replaced.

 

Working smoke alarms provide a critical and early warning of a fire, providing you and your family with the vital minutes it takes to escape and increase your chances of survival.

 

Fire Safety Tips:

·        Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, in each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area.

·        Hard-wired alarms (those wired directly into home electrical systems) should have battery back-ups.

·        Never disconnect or remove batteries from smoke alarms.

·        Use the hush feature on the smoke alarm to silence the nuisance sound, versus removing the battery.

·        Make a home escape plan and practice it with family members.

Daylight’s Savings time officially begins at 2 am on Sunday morning, March 11, 2012.