Be #FDNYSmart: Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries!

Hi Friends!  It’s Hot Dog here to remind you that this weekend we are changing our clocks.  A good rule of thumb is to also change your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries.

Did you know that having a working smoke alarm cuts your chances of dying in a fire nearly in half?  That’s because a working smoke alarm will let everyone know when there is a fire in your apartment.  This is especially important when you are sleeping!

Here are some important tips to remember:

• There should always be alarms placed near where you sleep.
• You should always make sure your grandparents have working smoke alarms in their home, too.
• Make sure your parents or the grownups in your house change the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year, on the days you change your clocks.
• Carbon monoxide is something you won’t be able to see, but it’s very dangerous! A carbon monoxide detector will sound when there are dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home. You and your family should get out immediately and call 911 for help.

If you need to replace a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm, one with a 10-year sealed battery is best.  You can read more about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms here.

It’s also extremely important to know what to do when you hear your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm go off.  Having an escape plan and practicing it can be the difference between life and death.  To read more about putting together an escape plan, click here.

So friends, don’t forget if you have alarms with batteries to tell your grownup to change them!

The FDNY Fire Safety education team will also be out this week handing teaching New Yorkers how to be #FDNY, handing out literature in various languages.  Check out the schedule here.

Watch our latest PSA:

It’s up to you to make sure your smoke alarm will provide a lifesaving early warning! Working smoke alarms are the first line of defense in keeping you, your family, neighbors, and even your furry friends safe! If you don’t have any smoke alarms present in your home, install one today and join me in staying #FDNYSmart!