It’s a spring ritual that more and more of us argue needs to be abandoned, but at least Daylight Saving Time reminders are also potentially life-saving since they’ve been tie-barred for years to the encouragement of new batteries for smoke detectors and similar alarm systems.
This is the weekend for the dreaded “lose an hour of sleep” rule that has us all setting our clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time early Sunday morning when the time changes at 2am.
It is, however, a great reminder to grab some fresh batteries while you’re out shopping this weekend to keep your alarms at the top of their game.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, LARA for short, spearheads the reminder each year with Director Orlene Hawks and State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer urging everyone to adopt the life-saving habits of changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Hawks says, “Testing your fire alarms to make sure they are working properly greatly increases your chance of surviving a home fire,” and adds, “Every second counts and smoke alarms provide the warning you and your loved ones need to be able to evacuate safely.”
Sehlmeyer concurs, warning, “It can take as little as three minutes for your home to be totally engulfed in flame and smoke,” and reminding everyone, “Working smoke alarms provide life-saving warnings to notify you and your family to evacuate.”
Last year, 122 people died in 101 fires in Michigan, a 21-percent increase in deaths and a 13-percent increase in the number of fatal fires as compared to 2019. In those fires, only 35-percent of homes were reported as having working smoke alarms.
In order to prevent fatal fires, Hawks and Sehlmeyer recommend the following:
- Never remove or disconnect batteries from detectors unless you are putting a new battery in the smoke alarm.
- “Press to Test” smoke alarms monthly using the test button.
- In 9-volt smoke alarms, replace batteries twice a year or when the smoke alarm begins to chirp, signaling that the battery is running low.
- Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom or sleeping area and have one smoke alarm on every level of the home, including the basement.
- For added protection, consider an interconnected smoke alarm system, so that when one smoke alarm sounds all the smoke alarms sound in the whole home.
- Hardwired smoke alarms are more reliable than those powered solely by batteries.
- Newer smoke alarms come with lithium batteries that can last up to ten years.
- Every ten years replace all your smoke alarms, or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.
- Choose alarms that bear the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
- People who are deaf or hard of hearing should equip their homes with alert devices such as high intensity strobe lights, and pillow or bed shakers that are activated by the sound of a standard smoke alarm.
Authorities caution that it’s important for families to know two ways out of their home via a prepared-in-advance fire escape plan and practice that plan two times per year. Make sure all family members – especially children – know and follow the family’s escape plan. Children are at an increased risk of dying in a home fire because they can become scared and confused when a fire erupts.
Carbon monoxide alarms are also critically important safety equipment in the home. Carbon monoxide is called the invisible killer as carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled. Carbon monoxide is produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel. The poisonous gas can quickly incapacitate and kill its victims.
Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide alarms need fresh batteries at least once every year, unless they are powered by sealed ten-year batteries. Carbon monoxide alarms should also be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly.
MI Prevention is a statewide program that is working to reduce fire fatalities in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state. MI Prevention is comprised of more than 400 members from fire departments across the state, the Bureau of Fire Services staff, and representatives from partnering organizations, including the American Red Cross-Michigan Chapter, and support of the NFPA. More information can be found at this link:
https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_42271_92049—,00.html
Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reminds drivers to watch out for pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists, because sunrise will occur one hour later, meaning that it will be darker later in the morning.
State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba says, “As the weather gets warmer, we anticipate more people getting out for some exercise and fresh air,” and adds, “Pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists should wear brighter, reflective clothing in order to be seen more easily, and those behind the wheel need to pay close attention and eliminate distractions while driving.”
Drivers are reminded that bicyclists are permitted to ride on most roadways in Michigan. Bicyclists are reminded that, as legal roadway users, they are required to obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals. A person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 6,205 pedestrian deaths and 846 bicyclist deaths in the U.S. in 2019 resulting from traffic crashes. These incidents were 2.7-percent and 2.9-percent lower, respectively, from the previous year. NHTSA’s data showed that most of the pedestrian fatalities (76-percent) and bicyclist fatalities (50-percent) occurred during dark conditions between 6 pm and 8:59 pm. In Michigan, there were 149 pedestrian fatalities and 21 bicyclist fatalities in traffic crashes, with 81-percent pedestrian fatalities and 48-percent bicyclist fatalities involved in traffic crashes that occurred during low light or dark conditions.
MDOT continues to work with partners statewide on the Toward Zero Deaths safety campaign based on the National Strategy on Highway Safety, which is intended to influence driver behavior and improve safety.
