Tonbridge residents urged to check smoke alarms as they change their clocks

Kent Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the Fire Kills campaign as they remind people to test their smoke alarms when they change their clocks at the end of the month.

Turning the clocks back for an extra hour in bed will already be on the 'to-do' list for the majority of households but while timekeeping is a vital part of our lives, many people forget to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones by regularly checking that their smoke alarms are good working order.

A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999. But according to Fire Kills, just half of all householders who own a smoke alarm say that they test it is working on a regular basis.

Fire Kills research shows that you're more than four times as likely to die in a fire if your smoke alarm is not working, but only half of people who own an alarm say they take the time to check it regularly.

Their campaign hopes that by adding this simple check to the clock-change routine, many more lives could be saved.

Head of Community Safety Stuart Skilton said: "The simple act of testing your alarm to check it is in working order is a vital part of any household routine. If a battery is flat, has been removed or the connection is loose, it cannot alert you to a fire in your home.

"So as you put your clocks back on Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 October, remember to also push the button on your smoke alarm– it could save your life."

Help keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the home by following these simple steps:

●      A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999. Make sure you fit one on every level of your home and test them regularly.

●      Make testing your smoke alarm part of your household routine. Check the alarm by pressing the button regularly; change your battery once a year or invest in a 10-year alarm; and clean the alarm casing twice a year to ensure dust isn't blocking the sensor.

●      Whatever happens, never remove the battery in your smoke alarm.

●      Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire and practise your escape route.

●      For more information visit the Fire Kills campaign's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/firekills

●      For free safety advice go to www.3breaths.co.uk/ or call KFRS on 0800 923 7000.

If you want an extra nudge to test your smoke alarm regularly, try setting an automatic reminder. Safelincs, in partnership with the Fire Kills has created a free service that reminds you, by email or text, when it's time to test your smoke alarm, change the battery or renew the unit. The service is completely free and can be cancelled at any time. www.safelincs.co.uk/reminders