BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana State Fire Marshal is reminding residents to check their smoke alarm batteries when setting the clock ahead one hour for Daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time is Sunday, Mar. 10 at 2 a.m. and remembering to check the status of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is important said State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams.
“The practice of changing your smoke and CO alarm batteries when you change your clocks should be second nature to all of us,” Adams said. “These days, as many clocks spring forward automatically, it’s especially important for this reminder to reach every household in Louisiana. Take a moment right now to put ‘change your clocks, change your batteries’ on your to-do list for this weekend.”
Here's some tips to follow:
- When checking the status of these devices to determine whether a new battery is needed, also take note of their age.
- If you know, or suspect, that your smoke or CO alarms are older than 10 years, we highly recommend upgrading to the 10-year, sealed battery alarms that don’t require any battery replacement through their lifetime. These newer alarms will, however, require something we suggest anyway—pressing the “test” button once a month to ensure the devices are in working order.
- Your family should practice a home escape plan at the same time which should include knowing two ways out of every room in your home and having an outdoor meeting place.
If you do not have a smoke alarm or cannot afford one, the marshal's office offers Operation Save-A-Life. Residents and families that need it the most can get a smoke alarm installed for free.
To learn more about the program and register for a smoke alarm, visit lasfm.org. You can also contact your local fire department to request a smoke alarm installation.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
