By MorinvilleNews.com Staff
Sturgeon County – If the occasional flake of snow wasn’t a sign that winter is on its way, the darkening of the sky earlier and earlier each day surely is. But Albertans will get a reprieve from the advance of darkness next weekend when the clocks turn back Nov. 7.
Alberta officially returns to standard time on the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m. when all clocks are turned back one hour.
But Albertans are being urged to add another reminder to their Sunday calendar this week, a reminder to install fresh batteries in their smoke detectors when they turn their clocks back.
It is recommended that there should be a properly working smoke alarm on every level of the home, something the province says will reduce the chances of dying in a fire by 50 per cent.
“We need to be vigilant about fire prevention and safety, especially in our homes where most fire deaths occur,” said Alberta Fire Commissioner Trent West in a release Friday. “Simple, common sense actions such as changing the batteries in your smoke alarm can make all the difference.”
As was reported during Fire Prevention Week, smoke alarms should be in good working order and alarms older than 10 years should be replaced. Batteries last an average of one year, necessitating changing batteries annually. Hardwired smoke alarms should be tested to make sure they are working. Additionally, the fire commissioner recommends testing all smoke alarms at least once a month.
To learn more visit www.3minutedrill.alberta.ca, an interactive website and a one-stop source for fire safety information.
