Date:

November 1, 2007

For More Information Contact:

Captain Guy Pinkman, 441-8370

Americans will set their clocks back one hour Sunday, November 4 as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end. Lincoln Fire and Rescue (LFR) is encouraging residents to make a life-saving change at the same time, by changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. LFR is joining Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 20th annual "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" campaign.

Every day, an average of three children die in home fires, and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries. Properly functioning smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly 50 percent. The International Association of Fire Chiefs also recommends that smoke alarms be replaced every ten years.

"The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping," said LFR Captain Guy Pinkman. "Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely."

Pinkman said low-income families also have a higher risk. Many are unable to afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable heating equipment, a main cause of fatal home fires.

Pinkman recommends residents use the “extra” hour they save from the time change to take three simple safety steps:

• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by pushing the test button.
• Plan two ways out of every room, and practice escape routes with the entire family.
• Prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.

For more information about fire safety, see the City Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: fire) or call LFR at 441-8370.