TOMS RIVER – Change your clocks, change your smoke detector batteries.
With Daylight Savings Time beginning March 11—spring ahead!—Toms River residents are being asked to also replace any smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
“Replacing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when you adjust your clocks twice a year is an easy way to ensure that your family is protected,” Bob Yaiser, Public Education Officer for the Bureau of Fire Prevention, said.
“Every year in New Jersey there are fire fatalities in homes that did not have smoke alarms or where the alarms did not function because of dead batteries,” Yaiser said. “If you do not have a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector, you need to get one. Test your smoke alarms every month and replace the battery at least once a year. If the alarm makes a ‘chirping’ sound, replace it immediately.”
The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention said that every bedroom and common areas on each floor should have smoke detectors. They should be mounted at least 10 feet from stoves to reduce false alarms. They should be placed less than 12 inches from the ceiling and away from windows, ducts and doors.
For more information, call 732-240-5153 or visit trfireprevention.com.
