Daylight savings time a reminder to check life-safety alarms

This weekend we will “spring forward” into daylight savings time. The City of Kingston, along with Kingston Fire and Rescue, are reminding residents to set their clocks ahead by one hour – and check their life-safety alarms. 

“We might be ‘losing’ an hour but this weekend is a great opportunity to gain confidence in our smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by ensuring they have new batteries,” says Delbert Blakney, Fire Inspector with Kingston Fire & Rescue (KFR).

KFR is also reminding residents to check the expiry date on their alarms, according to a release from the City, dated Friday, Mar. 12, 2021. According to many manufacturers, alarms should last 5-10 years in normal operating conditions. This can vary based on the model you own, KFR said.

“Check your manual for the exact warranty period. If your alarm is more than 10 years old, it’s time for a replacement,” says Blakney.

Don’t take your life safety devices for granted. “Working smoke and CO alarms provide you with early warning to safely escape potentially life-threatening situations, and they’re legally required,” he adds.

As for what you can do with the old batteries? Blakney recommends you use them in your remotes, flashlights or other non-essential electronics.