Batteries Plus, the nation's first, largest and fastest-growing battery and light bulb franchise with more than 520 locations in 46 states and Puerto Rico, is helping to educate consumers about fire and smoke alarm safety as a part of National Fire Prevention Week (October 7-13, 2012). This year's theme from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is "Have 2 Ways Out!"

Batteries Plus is doing its part to ensure every household and family in America has a functioning smoke alarm by urging residents to help protect themselves and their families before tragedy strikes. Residents should do the following:

• Ensure you are testing smoke alarms monthly.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries annually.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
• Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in home fires by half.
• Missing or non-functioning smoke alarms account for almost 62 percent of home fire deaths. Seventy five percent of smoke alarm failures are caused by missing, dead or disconnected batteries.
• A short, low beep every 60 seconds indicates the battery is low and needs to be replaced.
• Install a minimum of one smoke alarm outside every bedroom and in every sleeping area. If it is a two-story house, install at least one per floor.
• Choose a smoke alarm that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories opens in new window (UL).
• If you or someone in the household is hearing impaired, choose a smoke alarm that includes a built in strobe light providing both audible and visible signals.
• Even if your smoke alarm is connected to your home's electrical system, you still need a backup battery in case of power outages.
• Lithium batteries are an excellent choice for smoke alarms because they last longer and are more reliable than alkaline batteries. Batteries Plus offers the Ultra Life Battery UPVL-X smoke alarm batteries designed to last up to 10 years without being replaced.
• Batteries Plus also has a large selection of regular and extended-life alkaline batteries if your smoke alarm uses AA or AAA batteries.

"We want to help people understand that the presence of a smoke alarm alone can't save lives—it has to have batteries that work," said Batteries Plus CEO Russ Reynolds. "A smoke alarm with functioning batteries can alert people to fire and give them time to escape in a situation where minutes can mean the difference between life and death."

Batteries Plus provides 9V batteries for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, along with thousands of other batteries for items like cell/smart phones, emergency/exit signs, flashlights and UPS back-ups, all of which are essential items to have in case a fire emergency strikes. Batteries Plus also has access to over 10,000 unique light bulbs, including those that should be replaced in emergency/exit signs and flashlights. If you need a new flashlight, Batteries Plus stocks the widest selection of handheld flashlights, lanterns, head lamps, and industrial flashlights, including the Rayovac^® Indestructible flashlight.

Contact: Fishman Public Relations, Holly Kleese, (847) 945-1300, hkleese[at]fishmanpr.com