Send a Message About Smoke Alarms as Daylight Saving Time Ends

November 3 • 2021

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 7. Use this Public Safety Toolkit to spread the word in your community and on social media that checking smoke alarms (and carbon monoxide detectors) when changing your clocks can save lives and property.

Working smoke alarms decrease the risk of dying in reported home fires by nearly half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

In half of reported home fires in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate, the batteries had been removed or the alarm was disconnected due to dead battery alerts or nuisance alarms.

As the voice of public safety in your community, now is the prime opportunity for your local to spread the message about this simple, life-saving habit to start incorporating into their everyday lives.

This toolkit includes an op-ed for local media, tweets and posts to go along with infographics for social media and PSA videos. Share the infographics and videos, along with a strong message (tag your friends in the media in any tweets to maximize your reach), on social media and send the op-eds and infographics to your local media as soon as possible.

Be sure to follow-up with reporters and assignment editors to let them know you are available to discuss the importance of checking your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Media outlets are eager for timely public safety announcements that are high quality and ready to use. Providing a steady stream of quality content will help establish a solid, positive relationship with the public and local media to ensure they continue to look to their fire fighters for safety advice all year long.

Contact [email protected] with any questions or for assistance with IAFF toolkits.