SPRINGFIELD , Ill. – As Illinois prepares to “spring forward” this weekend, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is reminding residents to take a few minutes to ensure their homes are protected by working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, serving as the bi-annual reminder to perform these life-saving checks.
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Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow emphasized the importance of a functioning alarm: “Working smoke alarms save lives—the key word is working. As you change your clocks this weekend, take a few minutes to test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home, check their expiration dates, and replace any that are broken or more than 10 years old.”
Key Safety Reminders:
- Test: Push the test button on all smoke and CO alarms in your home.
- Inspect: Check the expiration date. Most alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
- Replace: If an alarm is not working or is expired, replace it immediately with a new 10-year sealed battery alarm.
- Practice: Review and practice your family’s fire escape plan.
The push comes as national statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that nearly three out of five (59%) home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or alarms that failed to operate.
To learn more from the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, click HERE.
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