Safety First Day of the Month - March 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us    @PGFDPIO

Today is March 1, 2015 and is the Safety First Day of the Month.  Today is the day that the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department has designated for everyone to test their smoke and CO alarms.  It's simple:

Push the TEST button on the front cover of your smoke and CO alarm.

An audible beeping noise will SHOULD sound.  If it does - your done until next month.

If it does nor sound an audible alarm - replace the battery.  Push the TEST button again - still no alarm - remove the alarm and immediately replace with a new 10-year, tamper proof, with hush feature smoke or CO alarm or better yet a 10-year combination smoke/CO alarm.

If you are still using a 9-volt battery powered alarm you may want to use this time to provide a fresh battery in your alarm and detectors now.  The bi-annual Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery campaign starts at 2:00 am on Sunday, March 8.  This is the time we ask everyone to provide a fresh battery to keep your alarm working.  Remember that when you move your clocks forward 1-hour to start Daylight Saving Time you need to provide a fresh battery in your alarms and detectors.  Safety First - Everyone Goes Home.

County Law requires a working smoke alarm in your home.  Over the next two years the law will continue to evolve to require a working 10-year smoke alarm on every level of your home, primarily outside of sleeping areas.

County Law currently requires a working CO detector on every level of your home, primarily, outside of sleeping areas.  This law includes all homes with a gas service (natural, propane, oil, etc), a fireplace or an attached garage.  This law also requires that all hotels, motels, dormitories and all apartments and condos have working CO alarms.

Prince George's County Firefighters will be going door-to-door on Wednesday, March 3 checking for working smoke and CO alarms.  They will have a supply of batteries and new smoke alarms to install to ensure a home has a working alarm.

On Saturday, March 7, the American Red Cross - National Capitol Region will join firefighters at the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department to canvass the community checking smoke alarms and providing a new alarm if needed.

Don't wait for a firefighter to knock on your door.  If you need a working smoke alarm and can not afford to purchase one, call 311 and ask about the free smoke alarm program.