Change your clocks, check your batteries

Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m. is the official time in which your clocks will need to “spring forward” an hour. Many people choose to set them forward Saturday evening before going to bed. Granite Falls Fire is sending out a friendly reminder to change your clocks and check your batteries.

The “fall back” and “spring forward” time changes are great reminders of changes and checks that need to happen twice a year: clocks and batteries! 9-volt batteries in smoke alarms should be changed at least once a year.

In addition, smoke alarms should be tested once a month and if an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. Ten-year lithium batteries just need to be tested on a monthly basis to ensure they are working properly.

To easily remember how old your lithium batteries are, mark the date of installment with a permanent marker and that way you know when they’re 10 years old. Remember, smoke alarms typically have a life span of 10 years and should be replaced after 10 years.

Remember, smoke alarms save lives. Having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of death or injury in a fire in half. Around two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes that do not have working smoke alarms.

Fire Chief Jim Haverfield commented, “Smoke alarms give us an early warning of fire, so that families can escape safely. When smoke alarms fail to operate properly, it is usually due to missing, dead, or disconnected batteries. It’s important to make sure they are maintained and your entire family recognizes the sound of the alarm and knows what to do if the alarm goes off.”

If your family does not have an escape plan, this time of year is a good time to bring everyone together and create and practice a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.

Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm. Visit Granite Falls Fire’s Facebook page to print off a home escape plan grid.

Granite Falls Fire reminds you to take time to be safe and enjoy the increased daylight hours throughout the spring and summer seasons!