The Prince William County Fire and Rescue System announced on Mar. 9 that residents should change the batteries in their smoke alarms as they set their clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, which begins Sunday, March 8. The department said working smoke alarms are essential for saving lives and reducing injuries or losses due to fire.
Officials emphasized that functioning smoke alarms provide early warnings during home fires, giving people more time to escape safely. According to the announcement, homes with working smoke alarms double the chances of surviving a fire compared to those without them.
The department offered several safety tips: close bedroom doors before sleeping to slow the spread of heat and fire; install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including basements, bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas; test alarms monthly using the test button; never remove batteries from alarms for other uses; replace all smoke alarms every ten years or sooner if they do not respond when tested; and ensure all alarms are interconnected so that when one sounds, they all do. Residents were also advised to keep alarms clean by vacuuming or dusting according to manufacturer instructions and teaching children what an alarm sounds like and how to respond.
For situations where a smoke alarm is triggered by steam from showers or cooking, officials recommended opening a window or door, pressing the “hush” button if available, waving a towel at the alarm to clear the air, or moving the alarm several feet away rather than disabling it.
The announcement highlighted that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing require specially designed smoke alarms. For more information about these devices and home fire escape plans tailored for this community, residents can contact the Hearing Loss Association of America at 301-657-2248 or visit http://www.hearingloss.org/.
Additional advice included changing batteries in NOAA All Hazard/Weather Radios at the same time as changing those in smoke alarms. The department encouraged residents to prepare for hazardous weather conditions by staying informed through resources such as www.nfpa.org (National Fire Protection Association) and www.usfa.fema.gov (U.S. Fire Administration).
Looking ahead, officials stressed that preparation remains key in protecting families from both fires and severe weather events.
