While changing your clocks, the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation urges that you use this semiannual event as a "timely" reminder to change the batteries in your homes' smoke detectors. In 1998 nearly 130 Georgians died due to fire-related injuries. Many of these deaths occurred in house fires where smoke detectors were either not present or not operating.

Nationally, approximately 4,000 people die in residential fires each year. Nearly 80 percent of all houses involved are equipped with smoke detectors, but more than 1/3 of them did not function properly.

The number of detectors needed depends on the size of the home. Ideally, detectors should be installed on each floor of the home, in each bedroom and in the basement by the stairs.

If your home is equipped with functioning detectors, assign a family member to be the "detector monitor." Their job will be to ensure that new batteries are placed in each detector and that every detector is functioning properly. Once in place, detectors should be checked monthly.

For a free safety brochure, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to GFBF, 2575 Chantilly Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324, Attn.: Smoke Detector, or call 404-320-6223.

By CAROLYN CARY

Contributing Writer

What do "Twice In A Blue Moon" and Fayette County have in common?

The unique occurrence of two full moons falling in the same month was first recorded in 1821, the year the county was created.

Full moons occur about once every 29.53 days or 12.3683 times a year. For those times when a full moon occurs twice in a month, the second one is called a "blue moon." Because February is only 28 days long, every 19 years the month will not contain a full moon, and a "blue moon" will occur, always in January and March.

The expression has also come to mean "very seldom" or something that occurs rarely.

A blue moon occurred this past January on the 2nd and the 31st, and this month it also occurred on the 2nd and today, the 31st.

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