“Fall Back” into Safety this Weekend: Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries

As we reset our clocks this Sunday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) reminds everyone to "fall back" into safety by checking and replacing the batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in the home. Taking this time to prioritize safety by also running a safety check around the household will help ensure the overall safety of the home and reduce the risk of potential fires.

Working smoke alarms and CO detectors are essential to keeping every household safe. During a fire emergency, smoke alarms help prevent fatal fires by detecting smoke in the home, giving everyone an early warning to get outside quickly. CO detectors will alert to the presence of the dangerous gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends to install smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Additionally, it is best to use interconnected smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.

The risk of dying in a fire is twice as high in homes without a working smoke alarm as compared to homes with smoke alarms. According to the NFPA, roughly three of every five home fire deaths in the United States happen in homes with no smoke alarms (41%) or no working smoke alarms (16%). The most common reason for smoke alarm failure during a fire emergency is a missing, dead, disconnected or improperly installed battery. Additionally, in 2021, 338,000 home structure fires caused 2,840 fire deaths and 11,100 injuries, resulting in $8.7 billion in direct property damage.

CO intoxication is the most common cause of accidental poisoning. Often referred to as the “invisible killer,” CO is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas, which can cause serious illness or death with little or no warning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CO causes at least 420 accidental deaths in the United States annually as a result of exposure to this toxic gas, and is responsible for more than 10,000 emergency room visits due to non-fatal CO poisoning.

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors save lives! Smoke alarms give residents those crucial minutes they will need to escape during a fire emergency. Changing their batteries while changing clocks twice a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries.

When turning your clocks back one hour this weekend, follow these life-saving tips:

• Check and replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.
• Be sure to replace any smoke alarms that are older than 10 years and any carbon monoxide (CO) detectors that are older than 5 years.
• Remember to change batteries in other electronics in the home such as clocks, thermostats, outdoor lighing, phone accessories, flashlights and any other portable devices
• Check inside the home and outdoor storage areas for hazardous home chemicals. For those that are outdated, no longer in use or in poor condition, dispose of them properly.
• Review and practice your home fire escape plan with everyone in your household.
• This is also a good opportunity to check your family's emergency preparedness kit to see what needs to be replaced or included.

Visit our website for additional smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors safety information.