It’s time to ‘spring’ forward!

March 13, 2022 10:00 a.m.

Change your smoke and CO alarm batteries when you turn your clocks ahead

It’s that time of year when we lose one hour of sleep to gain one hour of sunshine. When you’re turning your clocks an hour forward this weekend on Sunday, March 13, be sure to also change the batteries in both your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to change these alarm batteries every daylight savings – in the spring and in the fall.

  • To ensure your alarms are ready in case of an emergency, remember to follow these essential tips from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service:
  • Replace your CO alarms every five to 10 years and your smoke alarms every 10 years – they do expire and will have a date clearly marked on them.
  • Use interconnected smoke alarms – when one alarm sounds, they should all sound throughout your home.
  • Test all alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
  • Use special alarms for those who have hearing loss or are deaf – these alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.

Remember, your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms regularly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds. It’s also important to know the difference between the low-battery warning, end-of-life warning and emergency alarm sounds – consult your smoke and CO alarm manufacturer instructions.

Sounds of Fire safety contest

To help make testing your alarms a little more fun, VFRS is running a new contest. To enter, film yourself testing a smoke or CO alarm in your home. Videos should be 15 seconds or less. The contest is open to people 18 years of age and older who live or work in Vaughan. There is a limit of one entry per individual, and VFRS will randomly select 10 people to win coupons for free McDonald’s meals.

The contest runs from Sunday, March 13 to Saturday, March 26. To learn more, submit your video and read the full contest rules, visit vaughan.ca/fire. 

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