Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Experts say it's best to test smoke alarms every month, but for many, life gets in the way of regular maintenance.
That's why the American Red Cross of Utah is urging residents to make testing their smoke alarms part of the semiannual changing of the clocks. This so-called "Turn and Test" day — named for turning back the clocks and testing alarms — is part of the organization's effort to save lives.
At the very least, it will ensure that alarms are tested on a regular basis and will likely reduce the number of people killed in home fires.
"Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are the first line of defense against a home fire," said Jeremiah Lafranca, executive director of the American Red Cross of Utah Greater Salt Lake Chapter. "The sooner you hear the smoke alarm, the sooner you can escape safely from your house. That is why it is so important when you turn your clocks back on Sunday, you also test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors."
Standard time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, so clocks should be set back an hour Saturday night.
Ashley Sheehy, Red Cross of Utah disaster services program manager, said that functioning smoke detectors can reduce the risk of dying in a home by half.
"Because everyone has to remember to turn their clocks back, it's a great time for us to remind people to also check their smoke alarms," she said. "I think a lot of times our lives get ahead of us and this gives people a benchmark ... for households to check in on their fire safety plans and make sure that they're prepared."
Home fires can move quickly, Sheehy said, and on average people have only two minutes to escape as the flames spread. Even a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.
In addition to testing alarms and replacing batteries if needed, Sheehy said residents should make other fire safety protocols part of their routine. She said families — especially those with young children — should create and rehearse a two-minute escape plan, including practicing a way to meet up outside and take roll to make sure everyone is accounted for.
People should also make sure that every room has at least two exit points, and that there is a fire alarm on each level of the home and in each bedroom or other sleeping area.
I know this is cliché, but keep an eye on what you fry. If you're ever using an open flame in the kitchen — or even if you're not — just make sure that you're always in the kitchen with the food that you're cooking.
–Ashley Sheehy, American Red Cross of Utah
The Red Cross also has a program to deliver and install free smoke detectors for those who can't afford them or are physically unable to install one. Residents can visit SoundTheAlarm.org/Utah to make an appointment for installation, during which volunteers will also share information on how to prevent fires and how to create an escape plan.
Already this year, the Red Cross of Utah has responded to more than 160 home fires, including 65 in Salt Lake County alone. Sheehy said more fires occur in the winter than any other season, and most are started in the kitchen, often after people walk away from what they're cooking or aren't paying attention.
"I know this is cliché, but keep an eye on what you fry," she said. "If you're ever using an open flame in the kitchen — or even if you're not — just make sure that you're always in the kitchen with the food that you're cooking."
Fireplaces and space heaters are also frequent offenders, and Sheehy said residents should be careful to keep flammable items at least three feet away from any heat sources and make sure portable heaters aren't plugged into extension cords.
With the holidays quickly approaching, she said it's even more important to use care with lights, trees and any other decorations. Make sure to only use outside lights on the outside of your home, and vice versa.
Lights and candles should be used carefully and turned off or put out before leaving the room or going to bed.
For more information on home fire safety, visit redcross.org/fire.
