Press Release
Summit Fire Authority Reminds Residents to Change Your Clock/Change Your Battery
Friday, March 09, 2007 - Summit County, CO
As the time change approaches on Sunday, March 11, the Summit Fire Authority wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives -- changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. So far this year, there have been nearly 100 fire deaths nationwide, with nearly half of the victims being children. Many of these fires were found not to have working smoke detectors.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire and carbon monoxide deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Nonworking smoke and carbon monoxide detection systems rob residents of the protective benefits home safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working detectors? Used up or missing batteries.
Changing smoke alarm and carbon monoxide batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire or exposure to carbon monoxide. In addition, both types of detectors should be replaced every ten years to ensure proper functioning.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Summit County, the Summit Fire Authority has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 20th year of the "Change Your Clock Change Your Battery???ми?мимомим╞мимоми?▄????" campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries when changing clocks when the time changes, this Spring on March 11.
Press Contact:
Brandon Williams, Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue, Public Affairs Coordinator (970) 418-0562 or
Capt. Kim Scott, Public Information Officer, Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District at (970) 418-3016
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