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Seniors in the San Ramon Valley are not only eligible for free smoke detectors, they also will be installed. If new detectors are not needed, batteries will be changed in existing ones.

It's all part of the Senior Smoke Detector Program, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Alamo, Danville, Danville-Sycamore, San Ramon, San Ramon Valley and the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

"We're partnering with Rotary," said Fire Chief Richard Price. "We will schedule all of them on one day."

Rotarians will visit seniors' homes, including townhouses, from 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 24, in Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo, San Ramon, the Tassajara Valley and Morgan Territory to install the new smoke detectors. They will be wearing Rotarians badges for identification. The volunteers also will deliver a fire safety information packet from the Fire District.

Seniors who need assistance in having batteries changed or need a new smoke detector installed are asked to drop by one of the following locations to complete the sign-up form no later than 9 a.m., Friday, April 2.

• Alamo Bank of America: 110 Alamo Plaza, Alamo
• Alamo Safeway: 200 Alamo Plaza, Alamo
• Alamo Women's Club: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo
• Danville Community Center: 420 Front St., Danville
• Danville Community Presbyterian Church: 222 W. El Pintado Road, Danville
• San Ramon Senior Center: 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon
• San Ramon Community Center: 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon
• Sunny Glen Senior Center: 9000 Craydon Circle, San Ramon
• San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Administration Building: 1500 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon

Seniors also may sign up online.

Or they may print out a signup form in advance to bring to the locations noted above.

Rotarians will only be able to change batteries and smoke detectors on ceilings up to 10 feet in height.

Eight people die everyday in the United States as a result of fires in the home, the Fire District reports, and a large number of these homes did not have working smoke detectors. Working smoke detectors increase the chance of surviving a fire by nearly 50 percent.

Twice each year, firefighters remind people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks for daylight-savings time. They also issued the following tips:

• Place a smoke detector on every level of your home, in every bedroom and in the hallways outside sleeping areas.
• Check smoke detectors monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot reach the button, use a broom handle.
• Change the batteries in your detectors twice a year - remember, change your clocks, change your batteries.
• Hard-wired smoke detectors with battery back-ups still need to be tested monthly and batteries replaced yearly.
• Teach children what the smoke detectors sounds like and what to do when they hear one.
• Never disable a smoke detector or remove the batteries. Most of us wouldn't ride in a car without a working seatbelt, and we should not sleep in a house without working smoke detectors.
• Smoke detectors wear out over time. Replace yours if it is over 10 years old.

— Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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