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Firefighters Share Timely Advice: Change Smoke Alarm Batteries

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By DANIELA VELÁZQUEZ | TBO.com

Published: November 2, 2007

TAMPA - Firefighters will remind folk today that when they turn back their clocks Sunday, when daylight saving time ends, to change their smoke detector batteries.

Tampa Fire Rescue personnel will be at corners of 40th Street and Hillsborough Avenue and Busch Boulevard and Florida Avenue about 4 p.m. today to hand out free batteries and remind commuters: "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery."

"We're looking for new ways to reach out to the residents of Tampa and let them know its time again to check the devices that guard their family when they are most vulnerable, at night when the family sleeps," Capt. Bill Wade said.

The 20-year-old program is a joint effort of Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and it also addresses the need to change batteries in carbon monoxide detectors.

Nearly 20 percent of smoke alarms in U.S. households do not work, mostly because of dead or missing batteries, Wade said. He estimates 26,000 Tampa households are affected.

Tampa averages about six fire deaths and about 12 serious fire injuries each year, Wade said.

Most fire departments in the Bay area offer free smoke alarms to low-income families.

For information, in Tampa call (813) 274-8241 and in Hillsborough County call (813) 744-5541.

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