October is Fire Prevention Month. The Mineola Volunteer Fire Department wants to remind all village residents to "Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries." Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors when you change your clocks on Oct. 29 to make sure that your family has the critical time needed to escape if there is a fire in your home.

Most home fires occur at night when people are sleeping. A working smoke detector can double a person's chances of surviving a fire by providing the extra time that is critical for safe escape. Nationally, more than 90 percent of all homes have smoke detectors, but it is estimated that one-third of those don't work because of old or missing batteries.

The Mineola Volunteer Fire Department recommends replacing smoke detector batteries at least once a year, even if they appear to be working fine. Regularly replacing the batteries prevents the possibility that the detectors will start "chirping" (indicating that the batteries need to be replaced) when there is no replacement battery immediately available. The worst thing to do is to simply disconnect the detector to stop the noise since there's no way to predict when a fire will occur; even one night without a working smoke detector can be dangerous.

Other routine maintenance that should be performed on your smoke detector includes regular cleaning and testing. Your detector should be clean and free of dirt, dust and paint to perform efficiently. Use a vacuum on a regular basis to keep your detector free of dust and dirt. You should also test your detector regularly to make sure it is in working order. Make sure you can hear the alarm in all your bedrooms with the doors closed and discuss with your children what they should do when they hear the alarm.

Lastly, smoke detectors have a life span of approximately 10 years. Check with the manufacturer of your brand of smoke detector and see what the service life of the device is and when they recommend replacing it. If you believe your detector is 10 years or older then you should replace the entire unit.

The Mineola Fire Department recommends you replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clock. This simple procedure can save your life.