Now that we’ve turned back our clocks to standard time, Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O’Connell suggests safety tips on how Missourians can keep their families and homes safe as darkness falls earlier and winter approaches.
Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O’Connell says it’s important for families to keep smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors inside their homes in case of a fire and recommends that detectors are tested once a month and the batteries are changed once a year.
“Sixty percent of U.S. fires happen in houses that either don’t have a smoking alarm installed or smoke detector installed or that is not working properly or the battery has died. The most important thing you can do to protect your house and your family is to have a working smoke alarm,” he says.
O’Connell suggests if you don’t have a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector in your home already, go out and purchase one.
“It’s the best thing you can do for your children and all of your loved ones… the idea of changing the batteries in the detectors every so often is so you know that its working,” he says.
Adding that it’s critical to keep strong, fresh batteries inside the devices in case of an emergency.
AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:01)
