Remember to Change Your Smoke Detector Battery Published Oct. 28, 2015 By 23d Civil Engineer Squadron MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The staff of the 23d Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention office urges members of the 23d Wing and the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing to make a potentially life-saving move. When Airmen set their clocks back one-hour on the first Sunday of this upcoming November, take a moment to change the battery in your smoke alarm. Turning the clocks back will already be on the 'to-do' list for the majority of households over the clock change weekend. While timekeeping is a vital part of our lives and we all keep our clocks working to stay on track, it's shocking to know that many people forget to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones by keeping their smoke alarm in the same working order. Every year in the United States, about 2,500 people lose their lives in residential fires. Most fire victims do not die as a result of burns, they die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases. Additionally, statistics show most deaths and injuries occur in fires that happen at night while the victims are asleep. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms in the home are considered one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early warning of a potentially deadly fire. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by enabling residents to detect fires early in their development. The risk of dying from fires in homes without smoke alarms is twice as high as in homes that have working smoke alarms. All smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month to make sure they operate properly. If a smoke alarm is battery operated, replace the batteries at least twice a year to make sure the alarm will work when it is needed. It's a good practice to make replacement of batteries a seasonal routine, such as when resetting clocks in the fall or spring. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for testing and the replacement of smoke alarms as well as the replacement of the batteries. If your battery-powered smoke alarm begins to emit a low-power warning, usually a chirping sound, replace the battery immediately with a fresh one. This will ensure that your smoke alarm will continue to provide protection. Please feel free to contact fire prevention at (229) 257-4410 if you have questions pertaining to smoke detectors or any other fire prevention related concern. Don't forget to reset your clocks the morning of November 1. *Information was gathered from various news sources and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.