Hays Fire Department

Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, Nov. 1. As we set our clocks back one hour, this weekend is a good time to change the batteries in our home smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year about 4,000 Americans die in home fires. The peak times for home fire fatalities is when we are sleeping; between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Children and seniors are at the greatest risk of dying in home fires.

The NFPA reports that a working smoke alarm doubles your chance of surviving a home fire. Over 70 percent of smoke alarm failures during fires are due to missing, disconnected or dead batteries.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that carbon monoxide kills over 400 people annually and sickens over 20,000. Carbon monoxide cannot be detected except by a working carbon monoxide detector.

The City of Hays Fire Department urges everyone to clean and check their home smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and change the batteries this weekend. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every ten years.

City of Hays firefighters will assist seniors and others with limited mobility in checking and changing batteries or installing replacement alarms. The HFD has a limited number of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for persons living on fixed incomes or who otherwise cannot afford this protection.

For more information or assistance, contact the City of Hays Fire Department at (785) 628-7330.