Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Oxedine reminds Georgians: "Change your clock, change your battery" ATLANTA -- Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine is urging Georgians to change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the same time they change their clocks when daylight saving time ends on Sunday, October 26. In conjunction with the "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" fire safety program sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the American Burn Association, Commissioner Oxendine says the annual change back to standard time in the fall is a good time to make sure your smoke alarm is functioning properly. "Approximately one-third of Georgia’s fire fatalities last year involved homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms didn’t function," Oxendine said. "If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it’s in working order. Changing the battery every year and cleaning dust from the device is an easy way to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Remember, having a working smoke alarm doubles your chances of surviving a home fire.” The Commissioner added that families should plan and rehearse an escape route and a meeting place outside the home that they can use in the event of a fire.       Daylight saving time ends Sunday, October 26, at 2 a.m. when clocks are set back one hour. What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor. Back to the News Home Page| Back to the top of the page