Office of the Fire Marshal

A Minute Could Save Your Life

Twenty-five years ago, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs recognized a disturbing trend: that many home fire fatalities were taking place in homes without working smoke alarms. So through the years, the two have worked together, along with thousands of fire departments nationwide, to reduce and hopefully, one day, eliminate this trend by reminding communities to check and change their smoke alarm batteries and to make sure their smoke alarms are working.

October is National Fire Prevention Month, and we are encouraging everyone to take some time this month to make fire safety a priority for your household. And when you set your clocks back on November 4th, use the extra hour to take a life-saving action-change and test the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors-and remind your friends, family and neighbors to do the same. Making sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order takes just a moment, but it is the best defense your family has against the devastating effects of a home fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Please forward this message to your friends and family so that they, too, can make the simple change that could save their lives. Remember-a working smoke detector doubles your chance of surviving a home fire.

This reminder for the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program comes from The New Egypt Fire Company, The Plumsted Township Fire District #1, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

*Fire statistics were obtained from reports by the Fire Analysis and Research Division of the National fire Protection Association. See www.nfpa.org for more