It’s Time to “Turn Ahead” Your Clocks and Change Your Batteries

The Virginia Beach Fire Department wants to remind citizens that the time is here to “turn ahead” your clocks by one hour. Daylight saving time begins this weekend. The official time change occurs at 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 11.

The Fire Department also wants to remind citizens that it is equally important to check and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. It is a vital safety device that everyone should have in their homes. Too often people don’t have smoke detectors and, if they do have them, batteries have been removed for a variety of reasons.

Every home should have at least two detectors. Homes with multiple stories should have smoke detectors on every level. Other places to consider placing smoke detectors:

• Near bedrooms to waken occupants at night, since people won’t smell smoke while sleeping
• In the kitchen
• In the basement and stairwells
• Near the furnace and water heater
• In the garage

Smoke detectors need regular attention to guarantee proper functioning by blowing out dust and keeping them free of dust and debris.

The fire department also encourages carbon monoxide detectors for homes that use heating oil or natural gas for heating, cooking or hot water. Carbon monoxide is a deadly by-product of all fossil fuels, including heating oil, natural gas, coal, wood and peat. Carbon monoxide detectors detect the presence of carbon monoxide and alert occupants before carbon monoxide reaches a deadly level.

For Virginia Beach residents in need of a smoke detector, the Virginia Beach Fire Department offers free smoke detectors through “Operation Smoke Detector.” Residents need to call their local fire station, or call the “Operation Smoke Detector Hotline” at 757-471-5826.

For more information regarding smoke detectors contact the Virginia Beach Fire Department at 385-4228 or online at: www.VBgov.com/fire, or http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/focus/smoke_alarms.shtm.

For more information, please contact Battalion Chief Tim Riley at 757-385-1075 or E-mail at triley@vbgov.com.