Horry County Fire Rescue reminds you to check your alarms

Conway, S.C. – As residents remember to change their clocks back to standard time on Sunday, November 1, 2009, Horry County Fire Rescue reminds you to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic fire deaths and injuries. In fact, a working smoke alarm doubles the survival rate of fires that occur in the home.

According to the National Fire Protection Association 20 percent of homes in the United States do not have a working smoke alarm, mostly due to dead or missing batteries. Therefore, over 25 million homes are even more at risk of facing a deadly home fire. Sadly, about 540 children ages 14 and under die each year from a home fire.

“With smoke alarms being the first line of defense against smoke and fire in your home, it is imperative to maintain your alarms annually by changing the batteries,” stated Garry Alderman, fire rescue chief for Horry County Fire Rescue. “Simply stated — fire alarms that are in good working order save lives.”

For more information on how you can protect you and your family from fire contact 843.915.5190 or visit http://www.horrycountyfirerescue.com.