smoke alarms

Attleboro Fire Department Reminds Residents to Check Smoke and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving Time

March 12, 2021 by

Chief Scott Lachance and the Attleboro Fire Department wish to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and check the batteries in each when they move their clocks ahead to start daylight saving time Sunday.

“Daylight saving time serves as a great reminder to check the batteries within your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” Chief Lachance said. “While checking the batteries, we also encourage residents to test their alarms as well to ensure they are functioning properly.”

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 14, and clocks move ahead one hour at that time.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in more than 50% of home fires that were reported to fire departments in the U.S. between 2014-2018, residents were alerted to the danger by a working smoke alarm. Almost 60% of home fire deaths occurred in homes without properly-functioning smoke alarms or no smoke alarms at all during the same time period.

Fire departments nationwide responded to almost 80,000 carbon monoxide incidents in 2016, and almost 400 people died of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in 2017, according to NFPA data.

To keep residents’ homes safe and prevent fires or carbon monoxide poisoning, Chief Lachance recommends these safety tips from the NFPA:

Test all smoke alarms at least once a month, pressing the test button to ensure the alarm functions properly.
Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
Alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. When you change your clocks, also replace regular batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Smoke alarms have a shelf life of 10 years. Be sure to replace them after 10 years of use.
CO alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Smoke alarms should be installed in each room of the house. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each bedroom or sleeping area, on every story of the home and in other locations required by standards, codes or laws.
Make sure alarms interconnect so when one alarm sounds, they all do.
If the CO alarm sounds, immediately exit the house or building and move outside to an area of fresh air, ensuring each person inside the home is accounted for. Then call for help and await instructions from emergency personnel.
Working with each member of the household, create and practice a home escape plan.

For more information on smoke and carbon monoxide alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Attleboro Fire Department at 774-203-1922.

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Attleboro Fire Department Reminds Residents to Check Some and CO Alarms during Daylight Saving Time

October 29, 2020 by

Chief Scott Lachance and the Attleboro Fire Department encourage residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when setting their clocks back for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m., and clocks will move back one hour at that time.

“When you change your clocks this upcoming weekend, we recommend that you check your smoke and CO alarms as well,” Chief Lachance said. “These alarms can alert you of poisonous gases and heat within your home and give you the time you need to safely escape in the event of an emergency.”

According to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), working smoke alarms decrease the risk of dying in home fires by nearly half. Additionally, in many reported home fires in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate, the batteries had been removed or the alarm was disconnected due to dead battery alerts or nuisance alarms.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%). Additionally, dead batteries caused one-quarter (24%) of the smoke alarm failures.

The Attleboro Fire Department also asks that all business owners not only change their clocks, but also change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses should have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to keep your family and home safe, Attleboro Fire recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by IAFF:

Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in a central location or near the stairway to the upper level. Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet from cooking appliances to minimize false alarms.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. Standard smoke alarms do not detect carbon monoxide.
CO is known as the invisible killer, it is colorless and odorless. It may also affect adults, children and pets differently.
For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound. CO alarms can also be interconnected.
Test smoke and CO alarms at least once per month using the test button.
Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
Smoke and CO alarms with replaceable batteries need a new battery at least once per year. Replace batteries during daylight saving time or if the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low.
When replacing a battery, follow the manufacturer’s list of usable batteries on the back of the alarm. Manufacturer instructions are specific to the batteries that must be used and the alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.
Replace all smoke alarms according to the date on the back or when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of a smoke and CO alarm and knows how to respond.

The Attleboro Fire Department would also like to remind residents that carbon monoxide and smoke alarms are not interchangeable and should never be disconnected. The best practice for checking your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms is to do so monthly.

For more information on smoke alarm and CO alarm safety, visit the IAFF website.

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Attleboro Fire Department Reminds Residents to Test Smoke and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving

March 4, 2020 by

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8 at 2 a.m.

Chief Scott T. Lachance and the Attleboro Fire Department would like to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when setting the clocks ahead for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving begins on Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m.

“Daylight saving serves as a great reminder for residents to not only change their clocks, but to change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms,” said Chief Lachance. “We encourage all residents and business owners to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend and call the Attleboro Fire Department if you don’t have working detectors or need assistance testing them.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50% and, on average, three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The Attleboro Fire Department asks that all business owners not only change the batteries in their clocks, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, but also replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to continue to keep your home safe and prevent fires, Chief Lachance recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by NFPA:

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace alarms immediately if they don’t respond properly when tested.
Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when you change your clocks.
Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay in that spot until emergency personnel arrive.
Develop and practice a home escape plan with all members of the household.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Attleboro Fire Department at 774-203-1922.

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Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8 at 2 a.m.

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