For Immediate Release
April 3, 2003
Release # 03-104
CPSC Media Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris (301) 504-7066
CPSC Urges Consumers to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries When Changing
Clocks for Daylight Saving Time
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
urges consumers to change their smoke alarm batteries when changing
their clock for Daylight Saving Time this Sunday, April 6. CPSC
estimates that about 16 million homes in the U.S. have smoke alarms that
do not work. In most cases, the batteries are dead or missing.
In a recent year, nearly 2,700 people died and more than 15,000
were injured because of fires that started in their homes. These fires
resulted in property losses of more than $3.5 billion. Children are
particularly vulnerable. Each year about 700 children under the age of
15 die of fire-related causes and about 400 of these deaths are to
children under the age of 5 years. Most deaths occur from fires that
start at night while families are asleep. Four times as many victims die
from inhaling smoke and toxic gases as from burns.
"The Commission works to prevent fires by developing and enforcing
safety standards for products. For example, we have federal standards
for child-resistant cigarette lighters, for wearing apparel, for
children's sleepwear, and for carpets and rugs," said CPSC Chairman Hal
Stratton. "We are working on standards to prevent fires for products
such as water heaters and electrical wiring. But, if a fire starts, you
need a working smoke alarm to warn you and save your life."
A CPSC goal to reduce the death rate from fires is one of the
strategic areas in which the agency is focussing its efforts. "Through
safety standards for products, we hope to prevent fires from starting,"
said Stratton. "We continually work to strengthen smoke alarm
performance and installation requirements. Additionally, we are
currently studying the audibility of smoke alarms with young children
and older people to help improve reliability and effectiveness."
About 90 percent of U.S. households have smoke alarms installed.
However, a CPSC survey estimated that 20 percent of those households,
about 16 million, did not have any working alarms. CPSC recommends
consumers test each smoke alarm every month to make sure it is working
properly. Change batteries at least once a year. Long-life smoke alarms
with 10-year batteries have been available to consumers since 1995.
These long-life alarms also should be tested monthly.
CPSC recommends consumers place smoke alarms that meet the
requirements of a professional testing laboratory, such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL), on each level of multi-story homes outside sleeping
areas, and inside bedrooms.