Daylight saving time - a time to change your batteries

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Hartman
  • 442nd Civil Engineers Squadron
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  As the spring time change approaches, the 442nd Civil Engineers Squadron Fire Protection Flight reminds members to make a change that could save their lives -- changing the batteries in their smoke alarms.

Beginning March 14, the time changes from Central Standard Time to daylight saving time. Before you and your family retire for the night Saturday, March 13 make sure that you set your clocks ahead one hour to make the change to daylight saving time and change the batteries in your smoke alarms with fresh, new batteries.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a nationwide average of three children dies each day in house fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. In 2008 more than 2,700 people died in fires in the United States. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide.

The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is dead or missing batteries.

Taking 30 seconds to change smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries associated with fires. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association as well as the 442nd CES Fire Protection Flight recommend replacing your smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.