FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2004
Release # 05-025
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contacts: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 or Eric Criss, (301) 504-7908
Standard Time Starts on October 31 (last Sunday in October)
CPSC Recommends Fresh Batteries for Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety Tips
for Every Home
WASHINGTON, D.C. - "When you change your clock for Standard Time on
October 31, remember to test your smoke alarms and replace the
batteries," urged Hal Stratton, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission. "Keep cigarettes, matches, lighters, and candles away
from children who might unintentionally start a fire."
"A working smoke alarm should be placed on every level of the home and
in every bedroom," Chairman Stratton said. Commission staff is promoting
fire safety and encouraging consumers to maintain working smoke alarms
in their homes. In addition, CPSC has posted fire safety tips at
www.cpsc.gov and is distributing fire safety information to urban and
rural communities at risk.
An estimated 2,850 people die and 15,900 people are injured annually
because of fires in residences. These fires result in property losses of
about $3.8 billion annually. "Reducing this fire toll is a priority for
CPSC," said Chairman Stratton. "Consumers should keep ignition sources
away from children, install and maintain smoke alarms, and develop and
practice a fire escape plan."
Although more than 90 percent of homes have smoke alarms, millions of
homes have alarms that do not work. CPSC recommends that consumers test
each smoke alarm every month to make sure it is working properly.
Missing or dead batteries are the main causes for non-working smoke
alarms. Replace the battery in the smoke alarm as soon as it begins to
chirp, indicating a low battery. Consider using smoke alarms that come
with 10-year batteries. These alarms with long-life batteries should
also be tested monthly.
In addition, CPSC recommends that every home have a carbon monoxide (CO)
alarm near every sleeping area. Consumers need to regularly test and
replace batteries in CO alarms too.
CPSC has worked to strengthen smoke alarm performance and installation
requirements and is studying ways to make the alarms more effective in
waking children and alerting older people.
Between 1980 and 1999, residential fire-related deaths declined
substantially. In 1980, approximately 4,560 people died; in recent
years, that number dropped to 2,850 annually. This decline in deaths can
be attributed, in part, to CPSC and industry activities. This work
included safety standards for cigarette-resistant mattresses and
upholstered furniture, heating and cooking equipment, electrical
products, general wearing apparel, children's sleepwear, child-resistant
lighters, fireworks, smoke alarms, and residential sprinklers. CPSC has
designated fire safety as one of its top priorities for the next 5
years, with the goal of reducing fire deaths further.
CPSC recommends that consumers follow these tips to help prevent fires,
deaths, and injuries:
Install and maintain smoke alarms.
Maintain and properly use gas and electrical appliances.
Never leave food cooking unattended; turn off the burner if you have to
leave.
Keep matches and lighters away from children.
Develop and practice a fire escape plan.
You can get CPSC's "Home Fire Safety Checklist" here on this web site
[English (html) http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/556.html, English (pdf)
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/556.pdf, or Spanish (pdf)
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/spanish/556s.pdf], or by sending a postcard
to CPSC, Washington, DC 20207.