CHANGE YOUR CLOCK, CHANGE YOUR BATTERY

An estimated 80% of the nation’s 6,000 fire-related deaths each year occur where smoke detectors either haven’t been installed or aren’t working. An estimated 50% of home smoke alarms are useless because of missing or outdated batteries, officials estimate.

In an effort to reduce the number of fire deaths and injuries, the International Assn. of Fire Chiefs, the American Burn Assn. and Eveready Battery Co. are sponsoring the third annual “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” program. Fire officials will be going door to door this weekend in Whittier and at the senior citizens center on South Lafayette Park Place in Westlake, checking and changing smoke alarm and flashlight batteries and distributing brochures. Also, more than 10,000 batteries will be distributed to city fire stations in South-Central and East Los Angeles, Westlake and Pacoima and at seven county fire divisions. Residents can come in with an old smoke alarm battery and pick up a new one.

Here are some fire safety tips from local fire officials:

* Change smoke detector batteries each October when you change your clock back from daylight savings time.

* Set your water heater at 130 degrees or lower to reduce the risk of scald burns.

* Don’t disconnect a smoke alarm if cooking smoke or cigarette smoke sets it off. Instead, use a fan or open a window.

* Map out an escape plan, review it and practice regularly. Identify two ways out of every room.

* Sleep with the bedroom door closed at night to help slow spreading fire, smoke and heat.

* If caught in a fire on the second or third floor, do not jump. Hang a pillowcase or sheet out a window and shout to alert firefighters of your location. Then close the window and wait for help.

For information on which county stations will distribute batteries call the county public information line, (213) 267-2411.