OSFD Reminder Change Your Clocks, Change Smoke & CO Detector Batteries

OSFD Reminder: Change Your Clocks, Change Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Batteries

OLD SAYBROOK, CT - October 21, 2024 -- The all-volunteer Old Saybrook Fire Department wants to remind everyone that ONLY Working Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors can make the difference between life and death.

That's why they are joining with fire departments nationwide in promoting the
“Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign on Sunday, November 3,
2024.

Fire Department Member Max Sabrin encourages all residents to adopt this
simple, life-saving habit. "It's an easy, inexpensive, and proven way to
protect your family and your home," says Sabrin.

When you change your clocks, remember to also change the batteries in your
smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and please take a moment to perform
the suggested maintenance that’s outlined below.

Replacement

Replace your smoke detector battery once a year. (A helpful hint: Choose a specific date, such as when you are updating the time on your clocks.) And remember when a battery is running low, the detector will "beep," indicating that the battery needs to be replaced. And please do not use rechargeable batteries.

If you have a "nuisance detector" that goes off frequently with cooking
fumes or humidity from the bathroom, do not remove the battery. Instead
move the detector farther from the kitchen or bathroom. If the problem continues, you may want to consider a different type of detector. For instance, a photo-electric smoke
detector may meet your safety needs.

It’s also important to stress that smoke detectors need to be replaced every
10 years and CO (Carbon Monoxide) detectors need to be replaced every 5
years. Wired-in smoke detectors require testing, as well, because they also have a failure rate. Please refer to the owner's manual or change them every 10 years.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the maximum life cycle of a
smoke detector is 10 years from the date of manufacture, not the date of installation. Beginning in 2002, all smoke detectors were required to have a manufacture date marked on the outside of the smoke detector. So if you notice that your smoke detector does not have a manufacture date, then it is older than 10 years and must be replaced.

Testing

You can test your smoke detector every month by simply pressing the "test
button" on the face of the detector. If your detector fails, replace the
battery and repeat. If it continues to fail, please replace the detector.

Maintenance

Maintain your detector by gently vacuuming the exterior (using the small brush
attachment from your vacuum) or wipe with a soft cloth.

Recent surveys conducted for the National Fire Protection Association and the
Consumer Products Safety Commission found that 96% of all homes have at
least one smoke detector, but only 75% have at least one working smoke detector. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke detectors or no
working smoke detectors. Smoke detector failures usually result from
missing or dead batteries or disconnected wires. The peak time for home fire fatalities
is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping. Remember
that a working smoke detector can provide the critical extra seconds needed to
get people out safely.

For more information about the Old Saybrook Fire Department please visit: oldsaybrookfire.com.

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Max Sabrin, Fire Police Officer / Media Relations/Special Events Coordinator
Old Saybrook Fire Department
310 Main Street,
Old Saybrook CT 06475

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