Check Your Smoke Detectors and Change Your Clocks

WHITESBORO, NY– The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York is urging residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as daylight saving time approaches.

According to the association smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be cleaned to remove any debris that could prevent the alarms from working properly. Older alarms that have removable batteries should receive a new pair.

Representatives with the association say they are waiting on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office to sign legislation that would require residents to use smoke detectors with a ten year battery life. Until that legislation is passed firefighters are reminding people to check their smoke detectors and change the batteries.

According to FASNY smoke detectors are one of the most important pieces of equipment in a home and could save lives.

“We in the fire department have walked into houses and a smoke detector left hanging and there is no battery involved,” said Dave Jacobowitz, past president of the FASNY. “Batteries are important. It makes these operate. It’s not only smoke detectors that run on batteries, carbon monoxide detectors run on batteries. State law, you must have one in your house.”

Jacobowitz added some children might sleep through a smoke detector, almost like white noise. But there is a new detector on the market that residents can record their own voice, saying ‘wake up, wake up.’

For more information and tips visit: www.fasny.com.