Changing your clocks twice a year for daylight saving time (DST) can be a chore, but it’s also a good reminder to change your smoke alarm batteries too.
“To ensure that you will be notified in a timely manner in the event of an emergency, consumers should change the batteries in their smoke alarms twice a year,” says Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King.
King says changing the batteries in these devices is a “great first step in ensuring continued protection of your family and property.”
In 2018, 102 people died in residential fires in Georgia. Of those fires, 79 of the homes did not have a working smoke alarm.
So far in 2019, 59 Georgians have died in 49 residential fires. King says 44 of those homes did not have a working smoke alarm.
Commissioner King encourages all residents to test and clean dust from the smoke alarms monthly. He also recommends that you plan and practice an escape route in the event of a fire.
