It is also a good time to check your smoke alarms. The Palmetto SC Region of the American Red Cross urges everyone to test their smoke alarms when turning back their clocks. It only takes a few minutes to replace the smoke alarm batteries if needed and push the test button to make sure the alarms are working.
It’s also a great time to check carbon monoxide detectors.As the fall season ushers in cold weather, it also increases the risk of deadly home fires. That’s because heating equipment is the second most common cause of fatalities from home fires — which, on average, take seven lives every day in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. But working smoke alarms can double a person’s odds of survival.
“The Red Cross wants everyone to stay safe this winter,” said Louise Welch Williams, regional chief executive officer, Palmetto SC Region. “This weekend, please take time to ‘turn and test’ to protect you and your family against the season’s life-threatening risk of home fires.”