Tehachapi News

Change your clock, Change your battery

Sunday, March 11 is the day to turn our clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time. The Kern County Fire Department recommends that you also change the batteries in your smoke alarms. New batteries are much more dependable than the old ones. If the ones you remove still have some life left in them, they are great to use in small radios, the kids toys or other small appliances. When you change to the new battery, take a moment to test your smoke alarm. The sound it makes should be very loud and piercing, enough to wake your family from a deep sleep. A properly working smoke alarm can save lives. Make certain yours will do the job. 

This is also a good time to clean your smoke alarms. Dust, spider webs, and insects can collect in the device and interfere with its performance. The best way to clean your alarm is to open the cover and carefully vacuum the device taking care not to damage any parts.  It is also recommended that smoke alarms more than 10 years old be replaced with new units. After 10 years, smoke alarms may fail to function even with new batteries.
If your home is equipped with smoke alarms powered by the house electrical system, please be sure they are provided with battery back up in case of power failure. If your alarms do not have battery back up, it would be wise to replace them with units having the additional capability.

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS
Carbon monoxide is often called the "silent killer", a gas you cannot smell or see.  When carbon monoxide is inhaled it deprives the body’s cells of oxygen and can cause death without the victim realizing what is happening. Carbon monoxide is a by product of combustion and can enter a home from many sources, including malfunctioning or the improper use of gas-burning appliances. It is a good idea to have your gas appliances periodically inspected by a qualified service technician.  It is wise to install one carbon monoxide alarm on each floor of your residence.