Thanks to program fire department supplies others with batteries

Date: 11/10/2008

By Kaitlyn Schroyer

Staff Intern



EAST LONGMEADOW Have you remembered to change your smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector's battery?

To help the seniors of the nation, Energizer batteries and the International Association of Fire Chiefs came together to create a new program.

"Each year, a limited number of batteries are donated to fire departments nationwide for our distribution to seniors and low income households during the 'Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery' weekend," Richard J. Brady, Fire Chief of the East Longmeadow Fire Department, said.

This year, the East Longmeadow Fire Department applied for the program and received 144 of the 9-volt batteries.

Many people do not automatically change their batteries.

"We felt that with free batteries, people would change them. With the economic situation, many do not want to change the battery or do not feel it is a priority," Brady said.

With the heating season here, people are reminded that everything from space heaters to wood and pellet stoves to furnaces can be a potential fire hazard.

"Seniors are special people. There are quite a few in town and 144 batteries does not really touch the amount," Brady commented.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to think about their elderly neighbors and replace a battery or two for them.