Free Smoke Detector Battery Giveaway Planned For Sunday In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Public safety officials in Vernon will be giving away batteries to coincide with the end of Dayight Saving Time and the call to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, which means Connecticut residents will be setting their clocks back an hour before they go to bed Saturday night.

The end of daylight savings time is also a good time to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly, and to change the batteries in detectors, Vernon Fire Marshal Dan Wasilewski said.

"Early warning is key to getting out of a house fire," Wasilewski said. "The same goes for a carbon monoxide emergency, which can fill your home with the deadly odorless and colorless gas. Checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and spending a few dollars on fresh batteries is inexpensive insurance to keep you and your family safe."

To encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke and CO detectors, members of the Town of Vernon Fire Department will be handing out Free Energizer 9-volt batteries at Fire Station 141, located at 724 Hartford Turnpike, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

The batteries were donated by Energizer Holdings Company and are available to Vernon residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Thank you to our Fire Marshal, Fire Chief and Volunteer Firefighters for coming up with this plan to use this generous donation to benefit our residents, and for volunteering their time to hand out the batteries on Sunday," Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne said. "This is what Vernon is all about – finding ways to go the extra distance for our residents. Batteries can be expensive so this will be very helpful to our community’s families."

Energizer donated more than 700 batteries to the Town of Vernon and firefighters will give up to four batteries to each household on Sunday, Wasilewski said.

"A smoke detector should be on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas," Vernon Fire Chief Steve Eppler said. "Carbon monoxide detectors should also be placed on every level of your home, and outside sleeping areas. Batteries should be replaced in detectors, unless they have sealed 10-year batteries."