Editorial by Allstate Insurance Company
With the fall season upon us and winter right around the corner, on Sunday, Nov. 5, it's officially time to turn the clock back in accordance with Daylight Savings Time. Allstate Insurance Company encourages homeowners to treat the event as a critical reminder for checking and replacing the batteries in your home's smoke detectors.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 365,500 home structure fires, causing over 2,500 deaths.
"A smoke detector can only save lives if it has working batteries," New York Allstate spokesperson Jaclyn Darrohn said. "It's important to test your smoke detector every six months and make sure all members of your family, including young children, know what the smoke detector sounds like and what to do if they hear it."
Allstate offers some fire safety basics to discuss and practice at home with all family members:
- Check the batteries in your smoke detectors often.
- Keep extra batteries on hand and replace them every six months.
- Check your smoke detectors monthly. Replace any that are 10 years or older.
- Make sure everyone knows the piercing sound means danger, and should escape quickly.
- Position detectors smartly. Place one on every level of your home and near areas where you and your family sleep.
- Keep fire extinguishers handy. Make sure there's at least one on each floor.
- Talk with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in case a fire breaks out.
- If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll until the fire is out.
- Make sure you have two ways out of your house. Create a fire safety plan, with a designated meeting place.
- Inventory your home. Take the time to complete an inventory record of your personal property. In addition to completing an inventory record, take photos or videotape your items - it will make it easier to replace an item if you have a photo of it.
For more information on fire safety or other safety topics, contact your local Allstate agent or visit
www.allstate.com.
