Elmont Fire District reminds neighbors: spring into safety at home and at work

Check Your Smoke Detector & CO Detector Batteries

When Changing Clocks on Sunday, March 9

With Daylight Savings Time beginning on Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 a.m., Long Islanders move our clocks forward one hour (to 3:00 a.m. Local Daylight Time). It is also the ideal time to safeguard the home and workplace from preventable tragedy, says the Elmont Chief of Department, Domenic Francavilla. Chief Francavilla urges everyone to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and make sure they are functioning. The Elmont Fire Department also recommends that people dust or vacuum the detectors to keep them free of debris, so they can work properly.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in more than one-third of home fire deaths, no smoke alarms were present. In one-quarter of home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present, but did not sound. In 36% of fatal fires, victims never wake up before being injured.

“If there is a fire in the home and an existing alarm does not sound, the top three reasons are: disconnected batteries; missing batteries; dead batteries,” according to Francavilla. “Now, when you are adjusting your clocks to Daylight Savings Time, is the perfect opportunity to change your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. Too often we have seen fire and carbon monoxide lead to preventable tragedy, brought about by the lack of a functioning detector. Unfortunately there have been recent incidents like these happening right here on Long Island. Elmont Fire Department asks everyone to take these simple steps to prevent more occurrences”.

Elmont Fire Department’s smoke & CO detector tips:

• Test detectors at least once a month by using the test button.

• Check the batteries every six months, and change the batteries every year. If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you. Do NOT disable the unit.

• Vacuum or blow out any dust that might accumulate in the unit.

• NEVER borrow a battery from a detector to use somewhere else.

• NEVER paint a smoke or CO detector.

• Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement, and in, or near each sleeping area.