Turn your clocks ahead — and change smoke detector batteries — next weekend

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBUS — State Fire Marshal Michael P. Bell is reminding Ohioans to make a potentially lifesaving change when they move their clocks ahead for daylight-saving time this weekend: Change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

In conjunction with the public education program “Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries,” the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal and local fire departments across the state encourage Ohioans to make it a habit to change the batteries in their smoke detectors at least twice a year – at the beginning and end of daylight savings time.

Daylight-saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday. Clocks should be turned ahead one hour.

“The facts speak clearly – only a working smoke detector can save your life,” Bell said.

“Ohioans can greatly reduce tragic fire deaths and injuries by performing the simple task of replacing smoke detector batteries. By taking the time to change the batteries and by testing them monthly, you may save your life, the lives of your family members and your property if fire ever breaks out in your home.”

Bell said firefighters still find that smoke detectors, which typically retail for less than $10, are often not present in homes or are not functional.

To date in 2009, 21 people have died in fires reported to the Division of State Fire Marshal. Smoke detectors were present and functioning in only three of those fires.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.