Smoke detectors that don't work can't save lives. Surveys show that as many as 50% of the smoke detectors in American homes have dead batteries.

When daylights savings time begins or ends, do you regularly change your smoke detector batteries? This can be a lifesaving habit. When you reset your clocks last time, if you didn't change your smoke detector batteries as well, please make it a point to do so NOW. Without a working smoke detector to issue an early warning, fire can spread quickly through a household, blocking escape routes and filling rooms with deadly smoke.

There should be at least one smoke detector outside of each sleeping area and on every floor of your home. For increased protection, it is recommended that a smoke detector be installed in each sleeping room. All smoke detectors must be inspected and tested on a monthly basis. Properly installed and working smoke detectors will provide an early warning and nearly double the chance of surviving a fire. For more information, contact the Santa Clara Fire Department Community Risk Reduction Division at 408-615-4970.