Don’t forget, Daylight Saving starts on Sunday 3 October 2021.
This means clocks will need to be moved forward one hour at 2am on the morning of 3 October, Eastern Standard Time.
Councillor Rob Steane said the start of Daylight Saving was the perfect reminder to replace batteries in smoke alarms and ensure they are working properly.
“Checking that smoke alarms are working is really important and doing this at the beginning and end of daylight saving time has become somewhat of a tradition,” Cr Steane said.
According to CFA Victoria, research shows that less than half of all properties attended by fire services had smoke alarms and, of those that did have alarms, one third didn’t work.
“It doesn’t matter if your smoke alarm is connected to an electricity supply; the back-up battery still needs to be in working order. During a fire the power can cut out, so the battery could well be the thing that sets off your alarm and saves your life,” Cr Steane said.
“With more people working from home since the coronavirus pandemic, it’s also important to check that you’re not overloading power boards, which can become a fire risk.
“Extra care should also be taken when charging phones, laptops and tablets, as charging devices on soft surfaces like a couch or bed can also pose a fire danger,” he added.
The CFA recommends for minimum protection installing a smoke alarm outside each bedroom or sleeping area in the home. If you live in a house with more than one level, install smoke alarms on each level.
“Working smoke alarms are your best defence against preventable residential fires, especially during the night, when people lose their sense of smell,” Cr Steane said.
“The statistics on the importance of a working smoke alarm are clear. If you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home and a fire occurs, you are 57 per cent more likely to suffer property loss or damage, 26 per cent more likely to suffer series injuries and four times more likely to die.
“Installing smoke alarms and keeping them in good working order is the cheapest insurance for families and property owners,” he said.
For more home safety tips, visit the CFA Victoria website.
