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Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025 Daylight Saving Time Reminder: When You Change Your Clocks, Check Your Alarms Working Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Save Lives, Fire Offi cials Say S TOW — With daylight saving time beginning on March 9, Massachusetts fi re offi cials are reminding residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms when they change their clocks. “Working smoke and CO alarms are your family’s fi rst line of defense against an emergency at home,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “As we spring forward this weekend, remember to check your alarms when you change your clocks. Be sure they’re present on every level of your home and within their useful lifespan. And unless you have newer alarms with sealed, long-life batteries, this is a great time to replace the alkaline batteries in all your alarms.” “Smoke and CO alarms are like any other appliance — they don’t last forever,” said Foxborough Fire Chief Michael Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. “An alarm’s manufacturing date is printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms need to be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms need to be replaced after 5, 7, or 10 years, depending on the make and model. If your alarm is out of date, or if there’s no date at all, it’s time to replace it.” Most Fire Deaths Take Place at Home Overnight Of the 50 fi re deaths in Massachusetts last year, 80% took place in dwellings — and more than half of these took place between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Overall, DFS code compliance offi cers could only confi rm that smoke alarms were present and operated at about 35% of the fatal fi re scenes they inspected. “Here in Massachusetts, most fire deaths take place at home and they’re most common during the overnight hours when we’re sleeping,” State Fire Marshal Davine said. “Tragically, we see this fact pattern play out again and again, especially with seniors in homes without working smoke alarms.” Older Adults at Greatest Risk More than half of last year’s residential fi re deaths involved adults aged 65 and older. State Fire Marshal Davine and Chief Kelleher asked residents to check in on older relatives, friends, and neighbors who may need help installing, testing, or replacing their alarms. Seniors can also contact their local fi re department, council on aging, or senior center for assistance: Department of Fire Services’ Senior SAFE grant program awarded nearly half a million dollars to fi re departments across Massachusetts last year to support assistance with alarm installation and testing. Replacing an out-of-date alarm? The Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code requires replacement battery-operated smoke alarms in older one- and two-family homes to have sealed, long-life batteries and a hush feature. These alarms are easier to maintain and less likely to be disabled while cooking or by someone using the batteries for other household appliances. “Disabling a smoke alarm puts you and everyone in your building at risk,” said Chief Kelleher. “Never remove the batteries from a smoke alarm until it’s time to replace the batteries or the alarm itself.” Fire officials recommend that you choose alarms from a well-known, national brand. Look for the mark of an independent testing laboratory such as UL or Intertek. Many Massachusetts fire departments have found alarms purchased through Amazon and other online retailers that do not meet the Fire Code — and may not perform when they’re needed most. “If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. Carbon Monoxide Hazards Heating equipment is the leading source of carbon monoxide at home, Chief Kelleher said, and CO remains a hazard even in warmer weather. While many carbon monoxide incidents involve furnaces and other heating appliances, CO is also produced by stoves, grills, and vehicles, as well as generators put into use during a power outage. “Massachusetts firefighters report detecting carbon monoxide at about 5,000 calls each year,” said Chief Kelleher. “We can’t see, smell, or taste this silent, invisible killer. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect it. Please be sure you have them in place at home. If you hear them sounding, get out to fresh air right away and call 9-1-1 for help.” OP-ED | FROM Page 6 are not only competing; they’re excelling. This growth reflects our broader mission to provide students with academic rigor and athletic opportunities that will help them succeed regardless of their future path. The success of our athletics is rooted in several key factors. First, our small school model allows us to off er personalized attention and tailored programs. With fewer students, we can be more fl exible and adapt to each individual’s needs, whether that means providing extra academic support or focusing on their athletic development. We can push hard in one area and pull back when necessary in another, ensuring students can balance their academic work and athletic commitments. Another reason for our success is the dedication of our coaching staff . We’ve brought in outside coaches who’ve raised the bar signifi cantly. These coaches help our studentathletes see what high-level competition looks like and encourage them to match that intensity. These coaches have instilled in our players a more competitive mindset and a deeper, profound commitment to practice and preparation. Our student-athletes now understand what it takes to compete at the highest level, and they’re doing it. Finally, the family-like atmosphere created at PCSS and PCSS II encourages students to uplift and support one another in the classroom and on the fi eld. Our coaches, students, and staff are deeply committed to each other’s success. While we may not have the state-of-the-art facilities that some schools offer, we make up for it with determination, heart, and a relentless focus on improvement. This family spirit and our rigorous academic environment give students the tools they need to succeed. Having been at PCSS and PCSS II since their beginnings, it’s been incredibly fulfi lling to see how far we’ve come. From starting with just a few teams and minimal resources, our athletic programs have grown alongside our academic success. The stories of our alums returning to campus, sharing their successes in winning championships or excelling in their careers, are a testament to the potential and promise of our schools. These success stories are not just individual triumphs but collective achievements that we can all be proud of. All are reminders of why I do this work. Charter schools like PCSS and PCSS II are not just about providing a winning combination of academic excellence and athletic opportunity. We are committed to creating an environment where students can thrive, succeed in sports and academics, and are supported by a community that genuinely cares about their success. As our athletics continue to grow and our students achieve even more, I’m excited for what the future holds. We’re just getting started, and there’s no limit to what our students can accomplish. RevereTV Spotlight T he Community Channel is loaded with some new content this week! A special program called “Revere Sports Chronicles” aired for the fi rst time on Sunday night featuring Bob Marra as host and local fi lmmaker, Brandon Brito. Brandon, a 2016 graduate of Revere High School, has been working on a documentary about the Revere High School Football Team in 1964. This episode also brings Victor Mancini, Revere Class of ‘65 and No. 40 on that legendary team, to the interview table. “Revere Sports Chronicles” includes a showing of Brandon’s movie Unbeaten after the episode, and this will continue playing on RTV through the month of March. You can also watch it on YouTube at any time. Seniors from the Northeast Metro Tech Dental Assistant Program recorded a show in the RTV studio to inform Revere residents about proper dental homecare. These four students talk about what could cause issues for your teeth if not practicing dental hygiene the right way at home. Some techniques covered are fl ossing correctly and how to brush eff ectively. The students also discuss the health risks of not taking care of your teeth and treatments for if you’re unhappy with the appearance of your teeth. There is a lot to learn! Watch this short program on YouTube or as it airs daily on the Community Channel. You may have noticed some improvements such as rehabilitated parks, beautifi cation of public spaces, and hosting of festivals around the Beachmont neighborhood over the past few years. All of these projects and more are because of the Beachmont Improvement Committee. The BIC has submitted a proRevereTV | SEE Page 15

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