Bristol, Tennessee– As the time change scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2009, approaches, Bristol Fire/Rescue has implemented a safety initiative in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The new program reminds the public to not only change their clock settings, but to also, change the batteries in their flashlights, portable radios and smoke detectors.
Spring and summer bring a heightened potential for severe weather. Storms, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters can instantly disrupt our daily lives by suddenly leaving us without electrical power.
A short power outage might result in no more than the inconvenience of having to reset electric clocks; however, loss of electrical power for long periods can place us at risk of injury, illness, and even death.
In an effort to save lives and prevent needless injuries in our community, Bristol Fire/Rescue has joined forces with energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, for spring’s Power Through It All campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple habit: change flashlight and portable radio batteries when changing clocks forward to daylight savings time each spring.
Working flashlights, one for each member of the family, help people to avoid injuries in a darkened environment. By contrast, lighted candles are a risky lighting source and pose a particularly dangerous risk of fires in stormy conditions, especially when there’s a potential for a gas leak. Keep an Energizer Weather Ready 4 LED Flashlight for each member of your family. A backup supply of fresh batteries, such as Energizer Ultimate Lithium and Energizer MAX AA or AAA batteries represents a margin of safety and comfort.
An emergency power kit can help families stay safe by keeping them connected in the event of a power outage. An emergency power kit should include essential equipment such as a portable radio, working flashlights, portable cell phone charger and extra batteries.
A portable battery-powered radio provides vital information about conditions that led to the power outage and can provide the means to alert the public to continuing weather threats, advice and information about emergency help, and news of when power might be restored. A potable cell phone charger, such as the Energizer Energi To Go, charges cell phones on AA batteries. This will allow families to stay connected during prolonged power outages.
“When the lights go out in a home, an inexpensive, working flashlight can prevent serious injury or worse,” says Fire Chief Bob Barnes. “A battery operated radio can be a family’s most useful and informative link to emergency information; it is useless, however, without fresh batteries.”
Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal, Jack Spurgeon, recommends that residents use the Daylight Savings Time switch as a timely reminder to help families develop home safety plans and to prepare emergency safety kits.
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