Change your smoke and CO alarm batteries Nov. 1

Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, Nov. 1, is a good time to install new batteries in your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to protect your family from fire and CO dangers. 

Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of the home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends. CO alarms should be placed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. 

Fire danger

CPSC estimates there was an annual average of about 361,800 residential fires, resulting in about 2,290 deaths, and 10,410 injuries from 2015 through 2017. 

CO danger

Carbon monoxide, an invisible killer because you can’t see or smell it, can come from portable generators, home heating systems, and other CO-producing appliances.

CPSC estimates there were 179 unintentional, non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction in 2016. Portable generators were associated with the most deaths, followed by heating systems. 

How to protect your family

• Check existing alarms monthly, and change their batteries yearly, or install alarms with 10-year batteries.
• Create a fire escape plan for your family including two ways out of every room, and practice it.
• Check your home for other hidden hazards using CPSC’s Covid-19 safety checklist.