Change your clocks and smoke alarm batteries this weekend

"Change your clocks, change your batteries," is the message Halton Hills firefighters want to get out to area residents this weekend. With the change from daylight time to standard time set for 2 a.m. Sunday, area residents are reminded to turn their clocks back an hour before they go to bed Saturday night. They are also urged to change the batteries in their smoke alarms. "With the upcoming time change, now is the ideal time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms," said fire safety technician David Bouskill. "This is a perfect reminder to ensure your smoke alarms have new batteries and that the alarms are tested." With the introduction of the new smoke alarm law in March 2006 that requires every home in Ontario to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas Halton Hills firefighters continue their efforts in keeping the number of fire deaths declining in the province, said fire safety specialist David Ford. "With the minimal cost of smoke alarms today, there is no reason why everybody in the community does not have a working smoke alarm in their home," said Bouskill. He added that equally as important is having and practicing a home escape plan in the event of the fire. He said both adults and children need to know what to do if a smoke alarm alerts the family to smoke in the home. "Develop an escape plan and practice it with all members of the family to ensure a safe evacuation should an emergency occur," said Bouskill. Anyone who needs assistance in selecting or placing smoke alarms is asked to call a staff member at the fire service at 905-873-2601 ext. 2115 or 2118. Additional pamphlets, brochures and display smoke alarms are available at the information centre located in Georgetown Market Place.