The Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company encourages you to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when you set your clocks forward this weekend. A working smoke alarm more than doubles a person's chances of surviving a home fire. More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke alarms. It is estimated that one-third have worn-out or missing batteries.

The volunteers at Jarrettsville recommend that you test the batteries in your smoke alarms every month. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by enabling residents to detect fires early in their development.

If your smoke alarms are over 8 years old they should be replaced. Maryland State Law now requires the use of sealed and tamper proof smoke alarms with long-life batteries. These batteries are generally good for the life of the alarm.

For more information please click on the following link:

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pyfff/smkalarm.html

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/05/md-law-requires-smoke-alarm-upgrades-89064.html