Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2012.  So, before going to bed Saturday, March 10, remember to change your clocks ahead one hour.  At the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD), this is the time of year when we remind residents and businesses to change their smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) detector batteries.

Change Your Batteries and …

Many fire deaths and fire injuries are actually caused by smoke and gases.  Victims inhale smoke and poisonous gases that rise ahead of the flames.  Survival depends on being warned as early as possible and having an escape plan.  It’s important to remember that new batteries are only part of what enables smoke alarms and CO detectors to save lives.

You should be able to respond “yes” to the each of the following statements:

• There is at least one smoke detector located on every floor of my home.
• Smoke detectors are placed near bedrooms, either on the ceiling or on the wall six to 12 inches below the ceiling.
• Smoke detectors are tested at least monthly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and are kept in working condition at all times.
• Batteries are replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions, at least annually.
• Batteries are NEVER disconnected.
• Smoke detectors have a distinct warning signal that can be heard by those both asleep and awake.

In addition, you need to know how old your smoke alarms and CO detectors are.  Most alarms installed today have a life span of eight to 10 years.  After this time, the entire unit should be replaced. Some newer alarms have an “expiration date” stamped inside them – when purchasing a new alarm, be sure to check and make note of the date.

Smoke and CO Detectors Save Lives

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), between 2006 and 2008, there was a yearly average of 386,300 residential fires resulting in nearly 2,400 deaths.  While we haven’t seen a fire related death here in Avon in recent years, the fatal Christmas Day 2011 fire in Stamford is still fresh on everyone’s minds.  Smoke detectors were not installed in the house that burned to the ground.  Had there been smoke detectors, the five people who died in the home might have managed to escape.

The CPSC wrote in a press release issued earlier this week: “Two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. That is why it is important to replace batteries at least once every year and to test your alarms every month to make sure they work. CPSC recommends consumers have smoke alarms on every level of their home, outside bedrooms and inside each bedroom.”

Further, the CPSC estimates an average of 183 unintentional non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products per year between 2006 and 2008.  Since CO is colorless, odorless, and poisonous, it is called the “invisible killer.”  People cannot smell or see it – the only way to know if it’s present in a building is to have working CO alarms installed.  Furnaces, portable generators, fireplaces, cars, and charcoal grills produce CO when they don’t completely burn the fuel they are using.

Related posts:

Is Your Smoke/CO Detector Ready?

Plan Your Escape

Many fire deaths and fire injuries are actually caused by smoke and gases.  Victims inhale smoke and poisonous gases that rise ahead of the flames.  Survival depends on being warned as early as possible and having an escape plan.  It’s important to remember that new batteries are only part of what enables smoke alarms and CO detectors to save lives.

You should be able to respond “yes” to the each of the following statements:

• There is at least one smoke detector located on every floor of my home.
• Smoke detectors are placed near bedrooms, either on the ceiling or on the wall six to 12 inches below the ceiling.
• Smoke detectors are tested at least monthly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and are kept in working condition at all times.
• Batteries are replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions, at least annually.
• Batteries are NEVER disconnected.
• Smoke detectors have a distinct warning signal that can be heard by those both asleep and awake.

In addition, you need to know how old your smoke alarms are CO detectors are.  Most alarms installed today have a life span of eight to 10 years.  After this time, the entire unit should be replaced. Some newer alarms have an “expiration date” stamped inside them – when purchasing a new alarm, be sure to check and make note of the date.

For more information, watch this great smoke alarm VIDEO by the United States Fire Administration.

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), fire kills more than 3,500 Americans every year and injures about 18,300.  The AVFD urges families to have escape plans they can put into action in the event of a fire.

Fire can spread very quickly producing flames and thick black smoke that trap people in their homes. When making your escape plan, keep in mind that every second counts.

The USAF Offers the following guidelines for escape planning:

• Practice Escaping From Every Room In The Home

Practice escape plans every month. The best plans have two ways to get out of each room. If the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke, you will need a second way out. A secondary route might be a window onto an adjacent roof or a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows. Purchase only collapsible ladders evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory. Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly and that security bars can be properly opened. Also, practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.

• Immediately Leave The Home

When a fire occurs, do not waste any time saving property. Take the safest exit route, but if you must escape through smoke, remember to crawl low, under the smoke and keep your mouth covered. The smoke contains toxic gases which can disorient you or, at worst, overcome you.

• Never Open Doors That Are Hot To The Touch

When you come to a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame to make sure that fire is not on the other side. If it feels hot, use your secondary escape route. Even if the door feels cool, open it carefully. Brace your shoulder against the door and open it slowly. If heat and smoke come in, slam the door and make sure it is securely closed, then use your alternate escape route.

• Designate A Meeting Place Outside and Take Attendance

Designate a meeting location away from the home, but not necessarily across the street. For example, meet under a specific tree or at the end of the driveway or front sidewalk to make sure everyone has gotten out safely and no one will be hurt looking for someone who is already safe. Designate one person to go to a neighbor’s home to phone the fire department.

• Once Out, Stay Out

Remember to escape first, then notify the fire department using the 911 system or proper local emergency number in your area. Never go back into a burning building for any reason. Teach children not to hide from firefighters. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They are equipped to perform rescues safely.

The AVFD offers Avon homeowners a free home safety inspection that provides an outline of potential hazards in your home, and how to develop an evacuation procedure in the event of a fire or other life safety risk.  If you’d like to speak with an AVFD member about fire safety in your home, please call the Department at 677-2644 or stop by the Company 1 firehouse located at 25 Darling Drive any Monday evening after 7:00.

Click for a downloadable PDF of the USFA’s grid for preparing your family’s Fire Escape Plan.

Every year, almost 10,000 Americans are injured by fireworks, and nearly 5,000 others are hurt by charcoal/wood-burning and propane grill fires (www.firesafety.gov).  Here are a few fire safety tips that will help everyone enjoy the summer’s vacations, camping, family reunions, and picnics.

Barbecue Safety

Before each time you use your grill, remember check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line.  The venturi tubes – where the air and gas mix – must not be blocked.  Do not overfill the propane tank, and do not wear loose clothing while cooking over an open flame.

Be careful using lighter fluid. Do not add lighter fluid to an already lit fire – it can cause the flame to flash back up into the container and explode.  Keep all matches and lighters away from children.  Teach children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately.  Supervise children around outdoor grills. Dispose of hot coals properly – douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out.  Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers.

Never grill/barbecue in enclosed areas – carbon monoxide could be produced.  Keep grills away from sides of buildings. And, make sure everyone knows to Stop, Drop and Roll in case a piece of clothing catches fire.  Call 911 if a burn warrants serious medical attention.

Open Burning & Campfire Safety

Here in Avon, open burning is prohibited by ordinance.  However, campfires, including outdoor fire pits and chimneys, are permitted.  Please note, if smoke from your campfire bothers others, you can be required to extinguish it.

In special circumstances, open burning may be allowed, provided a permit is first obtained from the Fire Marshall.  An open burning permit is not valid during times when the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Division of Forestry has rated the Forest Fire Danger as high, very high, or extreme and burning is within 100 feet of a grassland or forest (Forest Fire Danger updates and advisories can be found at www.ct.gov/dep).  Please refer to The Code of Ordinances for the Town of Avon, Connecticut, Chapter 20, Article 3 (available at www.town.avon.ct.us or by calling the Fire Marshall at 409-4390) for specific rules related to open burning.

When camping, be sure to follow the park’s rules for the use and extinguishing of campfires.  Build campfires where they will not spread, away from dry grass and leaves.  Maintain small campfires and don’t let them get out of hand.  Keep plenty of water and a shovel around to douse the fire when you’re done.  Stir it and douse it again with water.  Never leave campfires unattended.