Saturday, November 02, 2013

Time to change your clocks and your batteries

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release:  November 1, 2013
  
Time to change your clocks and your batteries

As clocks are turned back this weekend, The City’s Toronto Fire Services reminds residents to replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. 

“Ontario’s legislation requires that smoke alarms be installed and maintained on every level of a home, and outside all sleeping areas,” said Toronto Fire Chief Jim Sales. “So this weekend, remember to replace the batteries in every single smoke alarm in your home.”

Most home fires start when people are asleep. Instead of waking you up, smoke from a fire can put you into an even deeper sleep. A working smoke alarm will detect smoke and immediately sound to alert you. This early warning will increase your chances for survival by providing more time to escape. The majority of fire deaths occur in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. Installing and maintaining home smoke alarms will help cut these risks in half. 

Smoke alarms are inexpensive, easy to install and should be tested regularly by pressing the test button. By gently vacuuming out your unit, you can also prevent a build-up of dust that can activate false alarms or prevent your alarm from detecting the smoke from a fire. 

In addition to maintaining smoke alarms, families should develop a step-by-step home escape plan so that all members, especially children and older adults, are knowledgeable and confident about how to escape in the event of a fire.

More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/fire/prevention/smoke_alarms.htm. 
Advice for dealing with nuisance alarms can be found at http://makeitstop.ca. 

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

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Media contact: Toronto Fire Services media line, 416-338-0763

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