Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery

Firefighters know the importance of home fire safety. That's why the men and women of the San Jose Fire Department encourage participation in the annual home fire safety program called:

Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery!

Sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Energizer brand batteries, the program urges you to adopt a simple lifesaving habit: Change all of your Smoke Alarm batteries when you change your clocks back to Standard Time on October 29, 2006. Protecting your home is simple:

Change, Check, Count and Clean!

Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries!

The San Jose Fire Department encourages you to change your Smoke Alarm Batteries at least once each year. An easy way to remember is to change these batteries when you change your clock back to Standard Time each Fall. Replace old batteries with fresh, high quality batteries to keep your Smoke Alarms ready to protect you all year-long.

Check Your Smoke Alarms!
After inserting fresh batteries in your Smoke Alarms, make sure Alarm are working by activating the safety test button. The San Jose Fire Department recommends that you test all of your Smoke Alarms at least once each month. If you have any doubt regarding the working condition of a Smoke Alarm, we recommend you replace it. The life of a smoke alarm is ten years; if your smoke alarm is over ten years old it should be replaced.

Count Your Smoke Alarms!
The San Jose Fire Department recommends you have a properly functioning Smoke Alarm in every sleeping room, in the hallway directly adjacent to those rooms and on every floor of your home including the basement.

To assure optimal protection and avoid false alarms, your Smoke Alarm must be mounted properly. You'll find simple instructions included with every Smoke Alarm you purchase.

Clean Your Smoke Alarms!
Help your Smoke Alarm remain sensitive and ready to protect you by gently using a vacuum cleaner once a month to remove dust and cobwebs. If your Smoke Alarms have been accidentally painted or contaminated, replacement may be necessary.


Posted by Captain Alberto Olmos, SJFD, PIO