Alarm alert

By Lia Bichel
WORKING smoke alarms can save lives- that’s why the Narre Warren Fire Brigade encourages Casey residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks for daylight savings on 3 April.
The message comes as CFA’s launches its ‘Change your Clock, Change your Smoke Detector” campaign.
Narre Warren 3rd Lieutenant Damien Baker said a new nine volt battery could save a life.
“Many people don’t realise that we lose our sense of smell when we go to sleep. A smoke alarm is your electronic nose which will alert you if there is smoke from a fire,” Lt Baker said.
“While many of our brigades and staff do a lot of great work behind the scenes, it’s really everyone’s responsibility to make sure their friends and family remember to change their smoke alarm battery.”
Smoke alarms are compulsory in every home and it is the legal responsibility of all owners and landlords to install working smoke alarms. All smoke alarms must contain a battery, need to be tested regularly and need to be replaced after 10 years.
Residents are encouraged to test their smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button with a broom handle, vacuum around their smoke alarm vents yearly and replace their nine volt battery each year at the end of daylight saving. For more information about smoke alarms or assistance changing batteries, contact Narre Warren Fire Brigade on 9704 6838 or email communitysafety@nwfb.org.au or visit www.changeyourbattery.com.au
The Narre Warren Fire Brigade currently has 100 free batteries to give to the elderly and people in need. Members of the Fire Brigade will be available to assist people in changing over their batteries with those who are unable to do it themselves.
For more information, contact Lt Damien Baker on 0401 760 476.