Community Corner

Daylight Saving Time: Check Clocks and Smoke Alarms

If you still have any clocks that need to be changed, move them up one hour.

Daylight saving Time begins today, March 10. Turn your clocks ahead one hour.

The hour is lost while most of us sleep and many clocks auto-adjust the time. However, you’ve probably got a couple of clocks (and watches) to adjust. How about the clock in your car?

In addition, Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management recommends testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and changing those batteries if necessary while checking clocks. The fire and rescue department also suggests dusting debris from smoke detectors.

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Smoke detectors must be regularly tested. The fire services industry considers smoke alarms appliances, just like toasters, televisions and furnaces.  All smoke alarms, whether hard-wired and/or battery powered), should be replaced every ten years.

“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. while most families are sleeping,” said Loudoun Fire Chief W. Keith Brower Jr in a press release. “Many people lose their sense of smell during a deep sleep stage. The death rate per 100 reported fires is twice as high in homes without a working smoke alarm as it is in home fires with this protection.”

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Smoke detectors can provide essential time to escape a fire if properly working, Brower said in the release.

“Missing or nonworking smoke alarms rob residents of valuable seconds that could allow them to safely escape,” he said. “Young children, older adults, and people with disabilities are most at risk and working smoke alarms may provide these residents the necessary time to safely evacuate.”

Brower also reminded residents to make sure there are two exits in every home escape plan and to identify a place to meet outside in case of an evacuation.

“Once you’re outside, stay outside and be sure to let firefighters know if everyone has made it out safely,” Brower said in the release. “These simple steps will help ensure that you and your family will have the best chance of surviving if fire should strike.”

Loudoun Fire and Rescue’s “Put a Finger On It” campaign offers free home safety inspections and smoke alarms to all Loudoun County residents. If your smoke alarms are broken or outdated the department will replace them with battery-powered alarms at no cost and install additional alarms as necessary. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the department hotline 703-737-8093 or visit www.loudoun.gov/smokealarms.


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