Dear Editor,

The Gallipolis Fire Department would like to remind all of our residents “it’s that time of year again” — “Change your clocks, change your batteries”.

The key to having good working smoke detectors is to ensure they have fresh batteries. We recommend smoke detector batteries be changed twice a year. An easy way to remember is when the time changes and we “change our clocks”, we also change the batteries in our smoke detectors.

Approximately 3,000 Americans die in home fires each year. Last year over 100 of those were Ohioans. According to information provided by the State Fire Marshal, more than 75 percent of Ohio’s fatal fires occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Having a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of dying in a fire by half.

We cannot stress enough the importance of having working smoke detectors. The bottom line is that smoke detectors save lives. If you cannot afford a smoke detector, call your local fire department. The Gallipolis Fire Department, as well as many other fire departments in Ohio, has joined forces with the State Fire Marshal to provide a free smoke detector to anyone who cannot afford one.

So remember, when the time changes we “change our clocks”, we also “change our batteries”.

Smoke Detectors are… a sound you can LIVE with.

Keith Elliott, Acting Fire Chief

Gallipolis Fire Department