Daylight saving time begins early Sunday morning.
We all lose an hour’s sleep. Fire safety officials hope people will gain some peace of mind, rather than moan and groan.
Spring forward, fall back — and replace batteries in smoke detectors, officials say.
Use the twice-yearly clock change as a reminder to check on important life-saving devices and review fire safety plans with the family.
“Smoke alarm batteries should be changed twice a year,” Steve Sherman said. He’s a deputy chief with Snohomish County Fire District 1. “We’re encouraging residents to change their batteries when they change their clocks.”
The most common cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn out or missing batteries, he said. Replace batteries twice a year, and never borrow batteries from a smoke detector.
While swapping out batteries, check to see how old the smoke detector is. Smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old should be replaced, said Kristen Thornstenson, a spokeswoman for Marysville Fire District.
People with long-lasting lithium batteries (they can last 10 years) should use daylight saving time to test their alarms. Most devices have a push button tester.
A variety of smoke detectors — photoelectric and ionization — placed throughout the home will best protect loved ones, Thornstenson said.
Smoke detectors today also can be programmed to “talk to each other,” so if one is triggered, all of them sound. That way, if a fire starts in the basement and the family is sleeping upstairs, the alarms still sound everywhere.
The switch to daylight saving time also is a good opportunity to practice at-home fire drills.
Children practice fire drills at school all the time. The same lessons should be taught at home about how to get out safely, Thornstenson said. Kids as young as 3 can learn escape routes if practiced often.
“We want parents to not just think about, but to have that home fire escape plan,” she said.
Practice during the day and night. Many children, especially those 7 and under, can sleep through the piercing sounds of a fire alarm. The only way to know how your child will respond is to have home drills.
“You don’t want to discover that your kids don’t have a clue what to do in the middle of an emergency,” Thornstenson said.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Daylight saving tips for fire safety:
•Replace smoke-alarm batteries twice a year
•Never “borrow” batteries from a smoke detector
•Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years old
•Teach children escape routes at home and have a family meeting spot outside
•Introduce kids to firefighters so they aren’t frightened in an emergency
Smoke Alarm Saturday
Many Snohomish County fire districts and departments will be checking smoke alarms on Saturday. This is the third year the Snohomish County Fire Prevention Association has sponsored Smoke Alarm Saturday countywide. In some areas, free smoke detectors and batteries are available.
Call your local fire station for more information.
Firefighters deliver pizza
In Marysville and Arlington, firefighters have teamed with Domino’s Pizza to encourage people to change their batteries. Firefighters on Saturday, Sunday and Monday will deliver pizzas and check smoke detector batteries between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. If the batteries are fresh and the smoke alarms working, the firefighters will hand out a $20 gift certificate good for their next pizza order.
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