PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

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

(Friday, April 1, 2005) - Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency encourages residents to change batteries and test their smoke alarms this weekend when they change their clocks.

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.

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 electronically 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 the smoke alarm (10 years), owners do not have to remember to change batteries regularly. However, all alarms should still be tested on a regular basis, monthly if possible.

Halifax Regional Fire & 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!

- 30 -

Contact:
G. Wayne Higgins or Kevin Thomas
Public Education Division
490-5546