St. Petersburg, Florida – A statistic from the National Fire Protection Association is so startling that it is almost unbelievable: 3 out of 5 home fire deaths are a result of fires in properties without working smoke alarms.

It’s for this very reason that ASI (American Strategic Insurance) has for more than 15 years sent 9-volt batteries to its policyholders as a reminder to make sure their smoke detectors are in working order. ASI has mailed millions of batteries since starting its battery project.

"ASI can repair your home, but we can’t replace you or your loved ones," said John Auer, ASI’s president and CEO, about the importance of smoke detectors.

This year, ASI is mailing more than a million batteries to its policyholders. The packages also include a safety reminder asking the policyholders to perform the simple task of updating the batteries in their smoke detectors. Having a working smoke alarm is crucial to surviving a residential fire. The NFPA says that the risk of dying in a home structure fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.

For those who own smoke alarms powered by a 9-volt battery, the U.S. Fire Administration offers the following maintenance guidelines:

• Test each alarm monthly.
• Replace batteries at least once a year.
• The entire smoke detector unit should be replaced every eight to ten years.

For more information about the battery project, call Marketing at 866-274-8765, Ext. 1853.

About ASI

ASI was started in August 1997 and is the 15th largest homeowners insurance carrier in the United States. It sells insurance in 27 states and the District of Columbia. The company has over $1 billion in written premiums and more than $640 million in policyholder surplus. For more information about the company, visit www.americanstrategic.com