Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries

The West Caldwell Fire Department reminds residents that along with changing their clocks on March 11 for Daylight Savings Time, they also should use this opportunity to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

On Sunday, March 11, residents will “spring forward” and move clocks ahead one hour. This time change is also an excellent time to make sure that every smoke detector in the home has a new battery.

“Making sure that every smoke detector in your home has a new battery and functioning properly does help save lives if a fire should occur,” stated West Caldwell Fire Official John Medina in a release this week. “Failure to do so could result in a preventable tragedy.”

Deadly fires in the news recently included a fire on Feb. 23 in South Plainfield, that began around 3 a.m. where five people lost their lives, including four children. According to South Plainfield fire chief Tom Scalera, “The apartment where the victims died had no smoke detectors at all, and those in the adjoining unit were not working.”

The placement of smoke alarms is important and sleeping areas need the most protection. The primary job of smoke alarms is to wake your family while you are sleeping. When you purchase smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions.

Keep smoke alarms away from areas such as fireplaces and stoves to prevent false alarms. Smoke rises so most manufactures recommend mounting smoke alarms on a ceiling at least 18 inches from walls and corners or on a wall away from corners and six to 12 inches below the ceiling.

Here are some safety tips on smoke detectors from the National Fire Prevention Association:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the “test” button.

• Smoke rises. So, install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.

• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least twice a year. If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old (or sooner if they do not respond properly).

• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms

• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan. Make sure you have a plan in case of fire.

Residents with questions about Fire Prevention or Fire Safety may contact the West Caldwell Fire Prevention Bureau at 973-226-2302. Up-to-date fire safety information is also available on the West Caldwell Fire Department Facebook page (facebook.com/WCVFD) and on Twitter (@WestCaldwellFD).