Spring forward into fire prevention

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs (RIAFC) is encouraging all Rhode Islanders to take the time during this weekend's change to Daylight Savings Time to also change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are working properly.

80 percent of all fire deaths in the United States are in homes without working smoke alarms. “The National Fire Protection Association statistics show that while 96 percent of homes are equipped with smoke alarms, 19 percent don’t work, primarily due to dead or missing batteries” said Providence Fire Department Chief George Farrell, president of the RIAFC.

“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half by providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape,” said Farrell.

Farrell added that installing smoke alarms – but not properly maintaining them – sometimes gives homeowners a false sense of security that could prove deadly. He recommend the following tips that can make homes safer in the event of an emergency:

• Test smoke alarm batteries once a month, and replace the batteries with new ones at least twice a year.
• One smoke alarm is not enough! Every home should be equipped with alarms on every level - including the basement - and outside each sleeping area.
• Encourage children to help test the smoke alarm and familiarize them with the sound it makes.
• Buy only smoke alarms that bear the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Replace them at least every 10 years.
• Smoke alarms need to be cleaned. Remove cobwebs and dust with a vacuum cleaner attachment. If you are going to be doing work nearby that could send dust or paint into the air, cover the alarm with a temporary shield made of cardboard or plastic.
• Make sure you have a home escape plan, and more importantly, that you and your children know what to do if they hear the smoke alarm. Practicing this will help prevent panic and confusion should your alarm ever sound.

If you need assistance in changing the batteries, checking their smoke detectors or installing new detectors, firefighters are available to help.

Also, for those in need of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors but who are unable to afford them, local fire departments can provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors free of charge.