Posted: Oct. 27, 2009
St. Lucie County—The St. Lucie County Fire District encourages all residents to remember to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks this weekend.
As part of the campaign, each fire station has a supply of batteries for families who need them.
"This is a very important and very simple way to keep yourself and your family safe," explained Fire Chief Ron Parrish. "The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when most families are sleeping. Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to stay safe."
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, although 90 percent of all residences have smoke alarms today, no smoke alarms were present in 42 percent of residential structure fires where fatalities occurred. Smoke alarms were present in 58 percent of fatal residential structure fires, but only operational in 37 percent of those fatal fires.
That means that most often where smoke alarms are present in a fatal fire, the smoke alarm is nonfunctional due to dead or missing batteries.
The SLCFD responded to 4,811 fire related calls in 2008. "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" is a national campaign of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Energizer company.
For more information, contact:
Catherine W. Chaney
Public Information Officer
St. Lucie County Fire District
(772) 621-3333