It's almost time to spring ahead, which means it's also time to test and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10.

Is your smoke alarm still working? Smoke alarms must be maintained! A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all.

A reminder everyone to not only set their clocks ahead this weekend, but to also test your smoke detector batteries and change them if necessary.

A smoke alarm only works when it is properly installed and maintained. Depending on how your smoke alarm is powered (9-volt, 10-year lithium, or hardwired), you’ll have to maintain it according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Even hard-wired smoke alarms should have their batteries replaced and tested monthly.

A working smoke alarm doubles your chance of survival during a fire by giving you the critical time needed to escape.

A lot of fires occur at night while most people are sleeping.

Actually, the smoke and toxic gases from the fire can cause you to fall into a deeper sleep, diminishing the chance of survival.

It's recommends changing the batteries every six months and testing them monthly.

General guidelines for smoke alarm maintenance:

Smoke alarm powered by a 9-volt battery
•Test the alarm monthly.
•Replace the batteries at least once per year.
•The entire smoke alarm unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

Smoke alarm powered by a 10-year lithium (or “long life”) battery
•Test the alarm monthly.
•Since you cannot (and should not) replace the lithium battery, the entire smoke alarm unit should be replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Smoke alarm that is hardwired into the home’s electrical system
•Test the alarm monthly.
•The backup battery should be replaced at least once per year.
•The entire smoke alarm unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

A Sound You Can Live With: Test Your Smoke Detector!

Unattended cooking remains one of the leading cause of U.S. home fires

Leaving an unattended pan or skillet cooking on the stove is a good way to burn your food, not to mention the chance of burning down your house.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) cooking fires are the #1 cause of home* fires and home fire injuries. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fire started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. Further more according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics, almost 30 percent of all reported home fires start in the kitchen, and of those, most involve the range-top.

Basic cooking fire prevention and fire safety mesures are very simple and easy to do and can prevent a cooking situation from becoming a far worse outcome. Just remember, practice and use these Cooking Fire Safety Tips ...

* Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.

* Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, and keep a close eye on food cooking inside the oven.

* Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packaging).

* Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by creating a three-foot (one-meter) "kid–free zone" around the stove.

* Turn pot handles inward so they can't be bumped and children can't grab them.

* Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.

* Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.

* Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner.

* Never pour water on a grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire.

* If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing.

* There is a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the microwave. Call the fire department and make sure to have the oven serviced before you use it again.

* Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully to prevent steam burns.

Fire can ripped through a home after a unattended cooking fire gets started. Such was the case in Lehigh Acres, Florida when the Lehigh Acres Fire Rescue responded to combat a structure fire at 2706 13th Street SW at 1325 hours on 2/24/12. The cause of the fire was unattended cooking. The family told firefighters that around 1:30 p.m., they left their home after cooking and forgot to turn the stove off. Here's news footage of this fire and video footage of the firefighters fighting the blaze...

Remember, Prevent Fires! It's Your Job!

Lawn Mower Safety

Each year 75,000 people are injured annually in lawn mowing accidents and 16,000 of those are children. Many of these injuries are burns caused by careless use of mowers before using or cleaning your mower. Before using or cleaning follow these safety tips:

1. Do not smoke while fueling lawn mowers. As we all know, gasoline is flammable and is explosive too.

2. Wait for machines to cool before refueling. Wipe up spilled fuel immediately. Never fuel a running mower.

3. Store and pour gasoline carefully and keep it in an approved container with a tight-fitting lid.

4. Check electrical mower cords for frayed or damage spots. Frayed insulation added to a metal mower, damp or wet grass, can cause lethal shocks or severe electrical burns.

5. Leave blade sharpening and electrical repairs to professionals.

6. If you do your own cleaning and tune up, disconnect the spark plug or remove it before beginning. If your mowers clogs up with grass it’s safe to make sure they are shut off first. If a blade is turned by hand, the mower can start if the spark plug is still intact.

7. Never leave the mower without turning it off. It takes only a few seconds to run inside and only a few seconds for the mower to run over someone and caused serious injury.

Here is a very funny but good to the point on Lawn Mower Safety YouTube video that shows how important Lawn Mower Safety is …

When you're mowing your lawn, be mindful of children. “Awareness,” it's everything. Always be conscious of your surrounding and know what's around you while mowing.

Have a safe enjoyable lawn mowing season.

Learn Not T0 Burn! Be Fire Safe!