Spring Forward and Change Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Batteries

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Mar 08, 2019, 16:31 ET

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, March 10, consumers will turn their clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time. As the season changes from winter to spring, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants you to spring into action and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

Many electronic devices and appliances with clocks will adjust automatically. However, some smoke alarms and CO alarms need a few moments of your time to ensure manually they are working properly.

"As you change your clocks, change the batteries in your smoke and CO alarms. Every moment matters," said CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle. "Working alarms can alert you and your family to danger, giving more time to escape in an emergency."

The National Fire Protection Association estimates that, in 2017, about 357,000 residential fires occurred, resulting in about 2,630 deaths, and 10,600 injuries.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It's called the "invisible killer" because you cannot see or smell it. CO can come from a variety of sources, including furnaces, portable generators, and chimneys needing repair. It can quickly incapacitate you and kill you.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are more than 400 deaths every year from unintentional CO poisoning, which can come from portable generators, home heating systems, and other sources. Be sure to install CO alarms, in addition to smoke alarms, as they provide added protection. Also be sure to use and maintain properly CO producing appliances.

Ensure there is a smoke alarm on every level of the home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. CO alarms should be placed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas. Alarms should be tested monthly and batteries changed yearly, unless the alarm has a sealed, 10-year battery.

Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and CO alarms now. Keeping your home and family safe is that easy.

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For more lifesaving information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC or sign up to receive our e-mail alerts. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

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Release Number: 19-078

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission