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NEWS RELEASE

October 29, 2007

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Howard County Fire Department Reminds you to “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery”

ELLICOTT CITY, MD. – Howard County’s Department of Fire & Rescue Services reminds you that on Sunday, November 4, when you turn your clocks back one hour to Standard Time, you should also replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

“Each day, an average of three children loses their life in a house fire and 80% of those deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms,” said Fire Chief Joe Herr. “We need to work harder to prevent these deaths and get out this simple lifesaving message so people will remember to ‘Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery’.”

The Department has joined forces with Energizer, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and more than 5,900 fire departments across the United States for the 20th consecutive year to educate the public about preventing needless injuries and saving lives. According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, 96% of American homes now have smoke alarms; unfortunately, 19% of those alarms do not work, mostly because of dead or missing batteries. This means roughly 25 million homes are at risk due to non-working smoke alarms and another 4.5 million homes are at risk due to no smoke alarms.

“Most house fires occur between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. when families are sleeping and the only warning of a fire in your home may be the smoke alarm,” said William Smith, Deputy Chief of the Fire Department’s Life Safety. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths.”

Smoke alarms should be tested and cleaned each month. It is also advisable to regularly clean smoke detectors twice a year to remove any cooking grease or dust and never remove smoke alarm batteries in nuisance situations or to borrow batteries for other devices. At least one smoke alarm is needed on each floor, but one in every room is highly recommended. Smoke alarms should be able to be heard in all bedrooms. They are best placed on ceilings since smoke rises; but, if the ceiling is below an attic that is not insulated or in a mobile home; the alarm should be mounted on the wall six inches below the ceiling. Smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old should also be replaced.

In addition, Chief Herr recommends residents use the “extra” hour they save from the time change to sit down with family members and plan “two ways out.” Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.

Children ages five and under and senior citizens are twice as likely as the general population to die in or from home fires. On average, three children under the age of 20 die each day in home fires and approximately 1,000 children each year. While adults over the age of 75 are three times more likely to die in a house fire than the rest of the population; those over 85 are 4.5 times more likely to die in a house fire. Unfortunately, many seniors are unable to escape from their home quickly enough.

Low-income households are also at risk because many low-income families are unable to afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable or area heating equipment – a main cause of fatal home fires. Howard County residents that are in need of smoke alarms but cannot afford them can obtain free alarms by contacting the Department of Fire & Rescue Services, Bureau of Life Safety at 410-313-6040.

For more information about fire safety, visit the Departments website at www.howardcountymd.gov/FAR/FAR_HomePage.htm or “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” website at www.energizer.com/firesafety.