DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS - CHANGE YOUR SMOKE ALARM BATTERIES
Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 6th at 2 A.M. Everyone is reminded to turn their clocks back one hour. The Ottumwa Fire Department would like to remind all residents to think about safety and install new batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they change their clocks to Standard Time.
All residents are encouraged to check their smoke detector monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year, or when the detector makes the “chirping” noise, indicating a low battery. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) also recommends that residences should have one smoke detector per floor and one in each sleeping area.
The Ottumwa Fire Department has a free smoke detector program. The program is donation funded and people can contact the department about the requirements. The Ottumwa Fire Department also has assistance available for people who have detectors but are physically unable to set them up or if they have batteries, but are not physically able to change them out. Personnel can come to people’s homes and help install or change the batteries in the detectors. For further information contact the Ottumwa Fire Department at 641-683-0667 Ext. 4.
Ottumwa Fire Department’s Deputy Chief Cory Benge also advised people to check the manufacturer’s dates on their detectors and advises replacing them if they are over 10 years old. A national survey conducted by the (NFPA) shows that nine out of 10 Americans don’t know how often smoke alarms need to be replaced. Benge said when installing detectors, it is best practice to put one in each bedroom and one outside the bedroom area as well as one on each level of the home, including basements and attics if those are in the home.
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