Batteries Plus hosts 9-volt battery give-away

October is Fire Prevention month and one of the most important fire safety lessons is to have working smoke detectors in the home. Experts recommend changing smoke detector batteries twice a year. To help make sure every smoke detector gets a fresh battery this year, Batteries Plus of Sheboygan will be giving away 9-volt batteries.

The giveaway will take place from 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17. The Sheboygan Fire Department will be on-site with an engine to answer questions and offer fire safety tips.

“Had there a been working smoke detector in the house, the firefighters would have been home by lunch.”

This quote, from a senior fire investigator for the National Fire Protection Association, describes the findings of a fire in Iowa last year that killed 22-month old twins, a 7-year old and three firefighters.

Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. According to the United States Fire Administration, a working smoke detector dramatically increases the chance of surviving a fire, yet the number of fires that occur in homes with non-functioning detectors has grown at a disturbing rate over the last 10 years.

For more information or to locate the Batteries Plus nearest you, call (800) MR START, (800) 677- 8278.

Event Summary

Who: Batteries Plus and the Sheboygan Fire Department

What: The store will be handing out 9-volt batteries for smoke detectors. The Fire Department will be displaying their engine and discussing fire education.

Where: Batteries Plus in Sheboygan at 519 S Taylor Dr.

When: 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17. Why: To promote fire safety by encouraging customers to change their smoke detector batteries when they change their clocks for Daylight Savings Time.