Waskom Volunteer Fire Department and EMS join with many other fire departments nationwide in encouraging families and businesses to change batteries in battery-powered smoke detectors when clocks are changed for Daylight Savings Time on Nov. 1.

Courtesy photo (ENLARGE)

Lloyd Pond presided at the Oct. 22 Waskom Lions Club meeting where plans for the Waskom Christmas Parade were discussed.

This year, the time takes place on the first Sunday in November and clocks will need to be set back one hour.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 65 percent of home fire deaths occur in homes where either there are no smoke detectors or the existing smoke detectors do not work properly. Given the quick speed in which fire spreads, a smoke alarm can alert persons to an emergency situation, providing extra time to exit the building.

Making sure that everyone in your home or business knows the sound of the emergency alarm and knows what to do when the alarm sounds can reduce injuries and save lives if a fire occurs.

In selecting smoke alarms, make sure that they have the label of a recognized testing laboratory and that they are properly installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Alarms that run on household current require installation by a qualified electrician.

Strobe lights and alarms with a recordable voice in addition to the usual alarm sound may be helpful in some instances. Alarms need to be tested periodically and battery-powered alarms need to have the batteries replaced at least once a year.

When a "chirping" sound is heard, that indicates that the battery is low and needs to be immediately replaced. Alarms need to be replaced at least every 10 years or immediately if they do not respond properly when tested.

There are several types of alarms available and consulting with your alarm company and insurance carrier may provide information to help you select the system that is best for your situation.

NFPA suggestions to save lives and reduce injuries if there is an emergency include:

Having home alarms "installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home (including the basement)."

Having an exit plan in place and practicing the exit drill at least once a year.

Having a designated place to meet outside the building.

Promptly calling 911 after you exit the building.

Making sure that your street address is posted so that emergency responders can easily find the location at night or in bad weather is another step that can enable help to arrive sooner.

For more information on smoke alarms, go to the National Fire Protection Association website www.nfpa.org/homesmokealarms. If you would like to obtain some safety information for children, www.sparky.org is a resource.

Meanwhile, make sure that you change your smoke detector batteries when the times change or on some other special date which you will easily remember. Smoke detectors save lives ... so make sure you have them in place and maintained properly.

\—\—\—

Lions Club plans

Christmas parade

At the Oct. 22 meeting of the Waskom Lions Club more plans for the annual Waskom Christmas Parade, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m., were finalized.

The parade lineup will begin at 2 p.m. in the parking area behind Waskom Middle School.

Martha Killion is coordinating the parade and will have registration and entry forms available starting this week. Forms will be available at Killion's Pharmacy, Waskom Public Library or by emailing marthabkillion@yahoo.com,

Community groups, churches, businesses, individuals, organizations, scouts, teams, bands, cycle groups, horseback riders and others are encouraged to participate in this community event.

As in year's past, the parade entry fee for each person participating is five canned goods. All of the canned goods will be donated to Operation Help, the local food pantry housed at the Sub-Courthouse in Waskom.

Santa Claus has confirmed that he will make a stop in Waskom as he really likes to ride on the Waskom Fire Department's Fire Truck. Smokey the Bear is also coming out of hibernation to participate in the parade and Fire Pup plans to come too.

The Waskom Lions Club has worked with the Christmas Parade for the past several years. The group meets twice a month on the second and fourth Thursdays at noon at Simple Simon's Pizza.

For more information on the Christmas Parade plans, contact Martha Killion at 903-687-2510 or Peggy Peal.