Set your clocks back, practice safety tips

RRFA and PSE share tips on being safe at your home and outdoors.

November 3, 2017 3:05 pm
Set your clocks back, practice safety tips

Get ready to wind your clocks back because Nov. 5 marks the end of daylight savings.

Renton Regional Fire Authority is starting a “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign along with Energizer and International Association of Fire chiefs to encourage residents to change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most people are sleeping,” said Fire Chief Rick Marshall in a press release. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”

According to the release, it is estimated that 80 percent of fire related deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries. Properly functioning smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly 50 percent, the release added.

RRFA is recommending residents test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by pushing the test button, plan two ways out of every room, practice escape routes with the entire family, and prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.

PSE is reminding residents to be safe as “pedestrians walking around at dusk are nearly three times more likely to be struck and killed by cars in the days following the end of daylight saving time than just before the time change,” according to a press release.

To ensure residents’ safety, PSE recommends adhering to the following tips:

  • Prepare a storm kit for your home and car. This can be a lifesaver in a power outage or if you get stranded in your car in bad weather. Make sure you have a long-lasting LED flashlight, a reflective vest for walking at night, non-perishable snacks, water and a warm blanket.
  • Update your outdoor lighting. A brightly lit home exterior can make all of the difference in the winter. Adding LED landscape lighting, path lights, and motion-detecting fixtures to your front yard makes your home more safe and secure. There are now a variety of energy-efficient outdoor LED bulbs available that last up to 15,000 hours, or about 13 years of nighttime service.