Loudoun County Reminds Residents to 'Put a Finger On It'.

From Loudoun County:

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA - Sunday, November 6th, we “Fall Back” and set our clocks back one hour to standard time. As we do this, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue reminds citizens to use this opportunity to check the batteries in your smoke alarms.

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke. A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all.

“Smoke alarms are the first line of defense in alerting a person to the dangers of smoke and fire,” said W. Keith Brower, Jr., Chief of the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue System. “Therefore, it is critical that these life-saving devices are checked and tested frequently to ensure proper functioning.”

Remember, smoke alarms must be maintained! All smoke alarms should be tested monthly and always maintained in tip-top condition. Check the manufacturer’s expiration date and specifications on the label, replace the batteries if needed and clean dust away so that smoke can enter freely. Whether hardwired or battery driven, all smoke alarms should be completely replaced every ten years. These simple steps will help ensure that you and your family will have the best chance of surviving if fire should strike.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue’s “Put a Finger on It” smoke alarm campaign offers free home safety and smoke alarm inspections to all Loudoun County residents. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the department hotline 703-737-8093 or visit www.loudoun.gov.

In addition to regular testing and maintenance of your smoke alarms, develop and practice a home escape plan so that everyone in the home knows what to do if a smoke alarm sounds. To learn about creating a home escape plan or to get valuable fire safety information, visit www.loudoun.gov or call Lisa Braun, Public Education Manager, at 571-258-3222.

Image via Loudoun County.