FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday’s daylight savings time change requires more than just moving your clock ahead
ANAHEIM, CA (March 4, 2015) – This weekend, residents are encouraged to do more than just turn their clocks forward one hour on Sunday morning. Anaheim Fire & Rescue encourages residents to review the Department’s Home Safety Visit Program information at anaheim.net/homesafety and request a home safety visit.
“It is not enough just to change your smoke alarm batteries only when daylight savings time changes,” said Fire Chief Randy R. Bruegman. “It is imperative that smoke alarms are tested monthly and replaced every 10 years for maximum protection of life and property.”
By visiting www.anaheim.net/homesafety, residents can find detailed information and resource materials to keep their property safe from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. “Equally important to testing your smoke alarms, residents should prepare and practice a home escape plan with family members,” said Fire Marshal Jeff G. Lutz. “No matter the circumstances, should your smoke alarm activate, get outside immediately, call 911 and do not re‐enter the location.”
Every year thousands of people are injured or die as a result of home fires in the United States; most of whom are in homes without a working smoke alarm. Statistics have proven that homes with older adults or young children are more likely to be killed or injured as a result of a fire in the home. To ensure that our residents are prepared, Anaheim Fire & Rescue launched the Home Safety Visit Program last year. Anaheim residents eligible for a home safety visit include those who live in and own their home; income‐qualified families; older adults over the age of 65; families with children under the age of 14 and people with disabilities.
Residents can visit the Department’s website to review the information and request a visit by completing the request form or by contacting (714) 765‐4040. During a visit, fire personnel will share information to increase awareness and knowledge about home safety, and demonstrate how to test and maintain your smoke alarms. If needed, fire personnel will replace smoke alarms installed before 2006 with new ones with 10‐year batteries, and home assessment and escape planning tools will also be provided. Funding for the 1,000 smoke alarms was made possible by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant so there is no cost to any Anaheim resident.
The Home Safety Visit Program is another initiative of the Department’s Community Risk Reduction Plan focused on single family homes which was adopted as part of Anaheim Fire & Rescue’s Strategic Plan.
Visit the Department’s website at anaheim.net/fire to learn more about the Department’s mission, vision and values.
For more information on the City of Anaheim, please visit www.anaheim.net.
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ABOUT ANAHEIM –The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation’s premier municipalities and is one of California’s most populous cities. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 348,000 residents and more than 2,900 City employees. The municipal corporation’s annual budget is $1.6 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as: Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc.; L-3 Communications; Pacific Sunwear; and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including: Angels Baseball; Anaheim Ducks; the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team, and the 2012 Olympic Games Silver Medal winning U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with: The Anaheim Convention Center, LEED-certified and the largest on the west coast; Honda Center; City National Grove of Anaheim; Anaheim GardenWalk; Angel Stadium of Anaheim; and ARTIC (Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center). In addition, Anaheim embraces its vibrant cultural arts community, including the world-renowned Anaheim Ballet. Annually, Anaheim welcomes more than 20 million visitors to the City, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.