Safety sources have a number of reminders for staying safe in a blackout.  Important tips include: Stay indoors and in a cool area of your home or apartment; avoid engaging in extraneous activity for yourself and children.  If you have cell service, use it sparingly and avoid burning candles that can both be a source of heat and a fire hazard.  Eric Kraus, Vice President of Communications for Duracell has tips on battery use:

�Though it may be tempting, don�t remove batteries from smoke alarms � it�s important to keep batteries in life-saving devices, particularly during a blackout.  And then also, if you want to extend battery-life, don�t mix old batteries with new ones.�

Kraus says more tips for safety during blackouts are included in a guidebook Duracell sponsored called, Together We Prepare Safe Families.  The free book is available at local Red Cross chapters or if you have power and web access at w-w-w-dot-redcross-dot-org and at w-w-w-dot-duracell-dot com. 

CLICK HERE to download a transcript of this story:
https://www.cpwire.com/click.asp?feature=https://216.86.33.66/blksafe.doc

CLICK HERE to download a multimedia (MP3) file of this story:
https://www.cpwire.com/click.asp?feature=https://216.86.33.66/blksafe.mp3