Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.PIO-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

10/24/07

Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery
(Can Save Your Family)

When you turn your clocks back on Sunday, November 4, 2007, make a life saving change in your household - change the batteries in all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Maintaining smoke alarm batteries is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce the incidence of fire related injuries or fatalities. Nationwide, a house fire occurs every 85 seconds. The majority of home fire-related deaths are from smoke inhalation, not flames or burns. The peak period for house fires is December through February, between 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.; when most people are sleeping.

The combination of properly working smoke alarms, a planned and practiced family escape plan, and basic home fire safety awareness is the key to being safe.

Additional Safety Note: With the introduction of ten-year lithium batteries available for use in smoke alarms, replacement is not needed on an annual basis. However, regular cleaning and testing remains an important safety measure.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.