LAPLACE - As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 2, the LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives - changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of two children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years. To save lives and prevent needless injuries in LaPlace, the LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 21st year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery campaign.

“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says Fire Chief, John Snyder, Jr. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths.

For more information about fire safety, call the LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department at 985-652-9445 or visit us at www.laplacevfd.com.