ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Far too many communities across the United States experience the tragedy of home fire fatalities each year. Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die annually in house fires -- an average of nearly three children each day. A working smoke detector can dramatically reduce this number. This is why the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Energizer and more than 5,800 fire departments across the country participate in the annual Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery(R) program. This simple program is designed to save lives by encouraging people to change their smoke alarm battery this weekend, Sunday, October 30, when they change their clocks back. A simple habit can save a life Although smoke alarms are present in 95 percent of American homes, 20 percent do not work due to worn or missing batteries -- this means nearly 19 million homes are at needless risk. Americans can cut their chance of dying in a home fire nearly in half by adopting the simple Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery(R) habit and ensuring they have a working smoke alarm. We hope you can help make fire safety a priority by reminding everyone in your communities -- families, friends, and neighbors -- to use the "extra hour" to change their smoke alarm batteries on Sunday. "The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping," says Chief Bill Killen, president of the IAFC. "A working smoke alarm can often provide the critical extra seconds people need to get out safely. That's why the simple act of maintaining smoke alarms is so important. Since children and senior citizens are most at risk, those are the citizens we especially target with this life saving message." Eighteen years of saving lives In the mid-80's, the IAFC and Energizer recognized a disturbing trend -- despite widespread use of smoke alarms, the number of home fire deaths and injuries continued to increase. "Research showed non-working smoke alarms were often responsible," says Jeff Ziminski, Vice President of Marketing at Energizer. "We joined forces with the IAFC to see if we could reduce home fire casualties through public education about proper smoke alarm maintenance." The Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery(R) program was created out of this concern in 1987. Now in its 18th year, the Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery message reaches millions of children, senior citizens, and families in communities nationwide. The IAFC is a non-profit association representing more than 12,000 chief fire officers and emergency services leaders worldwide. Its members are the world's leading experts in fire fighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search & rescue, and public safety legislation. The organization champions fire safety and prevention through efforts such as Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery. Energizer Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of primary batteries and flashlights and a global leader in the dynamic business of providing portable power. Fire Chiefs; Sense of Smell Institute DATASOURCE: National Fire Protection Association; International Association of CONTACT: Wendy Bain, +1-314-995-3939 x110, or Samantha Leavitt, +1-314-995-3939 x101, both of Energizer Holdings, Inc. Web site: http://www.energizer.com/

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