Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries this Sunday

CINCINNATI – The City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD) are reminding residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they move their clocks back this weekend. 

To aid in this vital maintenance, the CFD has partnered with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to offer free 9-volt batteries to the public.  For those who do not have a smoke alarm(s), the CFD has partnered with the Red Cross to offer free smoke alarm installation by appointment.

On Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday Nov. 4, residents are encouraged to visit any CFD fire station from 1 to 5 p.m. to request an appointment for smoke alarm installation or take home 9-volt batteries for current smoke alarms. 

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Replacing the batteries in these devices is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths.  The CFD urges citizens to make this maintenance a priority.

Residents are encouraged to change their batteries this at least twice a year, at the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time. Performing this vital maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire risks. 

Having operational smoke alarms may save your life and the lives of your family members, so please encourage your friends and family to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Ensure that smoke alarms are properly placed (for greatest protection, install a smoke detector on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area)
• Test your alarm monthly
• Change batteries twice a year or if a detector “chirps” to signal low battery power
• Never "borrow" a smoke alarm's battery for another device
• Consider switching to a smoke alarm that has a non-removable 10-year lithium battery
• Replace your smoke alarm every 10 years (or according to manufacturer’s specifications)
• Vacuum the dust from inside the alarm at least once a year
• Develop an escape plan and practice the plan with your family

For maximum protection, the Cincinnati Fire Department encourages the use of both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms. Such smoke alarms provide early warning when fire occurs.

• Photoelectric alarms quickly sense smoke from smoldering, smoky fires, such as those ignited by a cigarette falling between sofa cushions.
• Ionization alarms quickly sense smoke caused by flaming, fast-moving fires, such as a kitchen fire.

In the City of Cincinnati, residential rental property owners are required to install and maintain photoelectric smoke alarms outside sleeping quarters in their rental properties.

As always: Call 911 in the event of an emergency.