Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery - SIMPLE AND FREE

 MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930, mebrady@co.pg.md.us

Each year the men and women of the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department seek the assistance of our friends in the media in our campaign to save lives and limit property damage by promoting working smoke alarms.

Twice a year we promote our campaign that when citizens and residents change their clock for or to end Daylight Savings Time that they also change their battery in their smoke and CO alarms. It is especially important in the Fall when cold weather is upon us and the possibility of fire increases as everyone tries to stay warm.

Daylight Savings Time will end on Sunday, November 7, 2010. Please remind our citizens and residents to provide their alarms with a fresh battery in their smoke and CO alarms as well.

• Having a working smoke alarm increase the chances of surviving a fire by 50%

• No smoke alarms were present in 43% of the home fire deaths.

• In 22% of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.

• An estimated 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms!

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, as well as every Department in the National Capital Region, has a free smoke alarm program. Simply call our smoke alarm hotline at 301-864-SAFE (7233) and a firefighter will come to your house and install a smoke alarm; FREE OF CHARGE!!! You can also apply on-line by clicking here.

It’s a Law we can live with!!! In Prince George’s County residents are required to have at least one working smoke alarm in your home. The Fire/EMS Department recommends you have one on every level of your home and if you sleep with your bedroom door closed; have a working smoke alarm installed in your bedroom as well.

Also;

Test your smoke alarm every month by pushing the test button.

Change the battery in your alarm at least once-a-year.

Clean your smoke alarm on a regular basis with a clean rag or vacuum.

Replace your smoke alarm if it is more than 10 years old.