STATEWIDE — Sunday is not just a time to move your clocks ahead one hour — it’s also a time to check the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors.
“Indiana lost 20 Hoosiers to residential fires in January and February, and some of those lives could have been protected with working smoke alarms,” said State Fire Marshal Joe Thacker. “Taking the small step of changing batteries and checking the smoke alarms in your home gives your loved ones every possible chance to escape a residential fire safely.”
All Indiana residents should have at least one working smoke alarm in their home, said Thacker. Smoke alarms should be located outside of each bedroom and there should be at least one smoke alarm on each floor of your home.
Here are more smoke alarm tips to consider:
- Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they are working properly.
- Regular batteries should be changed at least once a year, preferably twice.
- Consider smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries for longer life. These types of alarms may not require a battery change for the life of the unit.
- Replace any smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old, as sensors begin to lose efficacy.
Smoke alarms are relatively inexpensive and many fire stations and related organizations have programs that offer free smoke alarms to people including low-income families and senior citizens.
