With Albertans no longer turning their clocks back this fall, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services encourages you to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and check for fire hazards at home.
If the time change was your reminder to check alarms, take a few minutes to test them now. Then, set a reminder to check them again on the first day of every month.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm safety
Working smoke alarms save lives. They provide early warning and valuable seconds to escape in case of a fire. LFES encourages residents to:
- Test every alarm. Use the test button on each smoke and carbon monoxide alarm at least monthly.
- Change the batteries. Change replaceable alarm batteries at least once a year, or sooner if a low-battery warning sounds. Replace sealed-battery alarms when they signal low battery or end of life.
- Check the replacement date. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years, or sooner if they stop working. Replace carbon monoxide and combination alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do when it sounds.
Review and practice your home fire escape plan, so everyone knows how to get out and where to meet outside. If there’s a fire, get out, stay out and call 9-1-1 from outside.
Heating safety
With colder weather arriving, now is also the time to:
- Have a qualified professional clean and inspect heating equipment and chimneys annually.
- Ensure fuel-burning equipment vents outdoors. Keep air intake and exhaust vents clear of snow, ice, leaves and other debris to help prevent carbon monoxide buildup. CO is produced when fuels burn incompletely and can cause serious illness or death.
- Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Install and test CO alarms on every level of your home for early warning.
If a CO alarm sounds an emergency warning, move outdoors immediately and call 9-1-1. Stay outside until emergency responders say it’s safe to return.
