(NC)—One in four Canadians surveyed in a recent national fire safety poll said they failed to replace the batteries in their home smoke alarms at least once during the past year. That is up from 18 per cent in a similar 2007 poll, indicating that Canadians seem to be missing the point on protecting their homes against fires.
The 2008 national fire safety study commissioned by Duracell and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) also revealed that more than one in three Canadian households (38 per cent) are due to change the batteries in their home smoke alarms this fall.
The CAFC recommends changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year and suggests the easiest way to remember is to do so when changing the time on clocks every fall. Getting into that habit can eliminate the common problem of forgetting when batteries were last changed or when new ones are needed, says the CAFC.
“We are urging Canadians to get into the habit of changing smoke alarm batteries ‘like clockwork’ every fall to ensure they are protected in the event of a home fire,” said Pat Burke, CAFC president.
Regionally, nearly half of British Columbia residents (49 per cent) are due to change their home smoke alarm batteries this fall. Quebec households aren’t far behind at 46 per cent and in Alberta, two in five households are due to refresh their batteries this fall. Most Ontario residents seemed to have changed their batteries in the spring and only 28 per cent are due for a change this fall.
The seventh annual Duracell Fire Safety Survey was conducted in May and July, 2008 and involved a sampling of 1,000 Canadians. More information is available online at www.duracell.com/ca/firesafety.