Every spring, fire safety experts along with the nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) reminds residents about the life-saving habit of checking their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms when setting their clocks forward for daylight saving time. The National Fire Protection Association reports that 81 percent of battery-operated smoke alarms which failed to operate in home fires had missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. To combat these alarming statistics, the IFSA worked with the Illinois General Assembly to update a law to address this horrific problem, by requiring residents to replace their old smoke alarms with the type that has a long-term, 10-year sealed battery by the end of this year. This would apply to residents that are still using alarms with removable batteries or alarms that are not hardwired. The exemptions to the updated law include homes built after 1988 that already have hardwired smoke alarms and homes with wireless integrated alarms. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. To learn more about protecting your family from smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide, visit the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance website at www.IFSA.org.