The Gastonia Fire Department wants to remind residents to change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, when you change your clocks this weekend.
When daylight savings time begins this Sunday, March 8th, let the fact that you need to move your clocks ahead an hour, remind you to do something just as important. Change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home!
The first defense for occupants in case of a house fire, is a working smoke alarm. An alarming but true fact is, 80 percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
Changing the batteries in smoke alarms twice per year, testing alarms monthly, and replacing smoke alarms after 10 years are the best way to reduce these tragic deaths.
If a citizen in Gaston County does not have a working smoke alarm or if the existing alarm is either damaged or out of date, they can obtain a smoke alarm free of charge by calling 704-866-3355.
Families are also encouraged to develop and practice a home fire escape plan including: knowing two ways out of every room, and to make sure every member of the family understands how to get out of the home in case of fire. A copy of our home fire escape plan is available to download and print at our website: GastoniaFire.org.
– Jim Landis, GFD Office of Public Information
