SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Every eight hours a child dies in a home fire in the United States. A working smoke alarm cuts this risk nearly in half. When you change your clocks as daylight savings time ends October 31, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) wants to remind residents to make another change that could save your life: change the batteries in your smoke alarms.

During October, Sunnyvale’s six fire stations are displaying large banners with the message “Smoke Detectors Save lives. Change Batteries Twice a Year, Test Monthly.” Changing smoke alarm batteries when daylight savings time begins and ends is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries. The International Association of Fire Chiefs also recommends replacing your smoke alarm every ten years. 

In addition, DPS recommends testing smoke alarms, preparing a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and planning and practicing two ways to get out of the house.