New Smoke Alarm Law Takes Effect April 1st

Did you know that a NEW Smoke Alarm law takes effect today?  Beginning today, (April 1st) by law you can no longer purchase a smoke alarm with a removable battery.

The only battery-powered smoke alarms allowed to be sold will be those equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries that last at least ten years. The Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) says once installed, these alarms are virtually impossible to disable.

All too often it seems, even with reminders (when we change our clocks twice a year) we don't check the batteries in our smoke alarms.  Some batteries are dead, some missing...

"The implementation of this legislation will save lives," said FASNY President Steven Klein. "Far too many people are injured or killed in home fires, and too many of these tragedies can be traced back to a lack of working smoke alarms. Forgetting to replace or change a battery should not result in death."

It will still leave the onus on us to check the existing alarms in our homes to make sure they are working.  Those with test buttons can be easily checked, and when in doubt just replace the battery.

(WGRZ-TV)