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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Encourages Residents to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries Along with Clocks

(Friday, October 29, 2004) - Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency encourages residents to change smoke alarm batteries this weekend when they change their clocks. HRFES also encourages residents to test smoke alarms (even electrical) monthly.

Working smoke alarms can cut the chance of dying in a home fire nearly in half by providing the extra time critical for safe escape. Most home fires occur at night when people are sleeping. Most fire fatalities are the result of smoke inhalation; lethal amounts of smoke build long before the flames spread. Working smoke alarms will alert residents while there is still time to get out alive.

The Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency requires a minimum of at least one working smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Also, if you have electrically operated smoke alarms, it is strongly recommended that residents have a "battery backup" smoke alarm.

Lithium battery smoke alarms are a new technology that has become available. Because lithium batteries last approximately the length of a smoke alarm (10 years), owners do not have to remember to change batteries regularly. The alarms should still be tested on a regular basis, however.

The Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency has an “Alarmed and Ready Program” that supplies smoke alarms to residents who do not have at least one working smoke alarm. Please contact 490-5590 or 490-5546 for information on this program.

SMOKE ALARMS - DON'T “LIVE” HOME WITHOUT THEM!

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For further information contact:

Wayne Higgins or Kevin Thomas
Public Education Division
490-4017
higginw@halifax.ca

Above content last modified Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 4:06pm.