Sunday, November 4 at 2 a.m. is the official time in which your clocks will need to “fall back” an hour. Many people choose to set them back Saturday evening before going to bed.

This time change marks not only the beginning of daylight saving time, it also marks the time of year when you are encouraged to change the batteries in all of your smoke alarms.

Batteries should be checked in smoke alarms at least once per month and changed at least once in a year. The “fall back” and “spring forward” time changes are great reminders of changes and checks that need to happen twice a year: clocks and batteries.

To easily remember how old your lithium batteries are, mark the date of installment with a permanent marker and that way you know when they’re 10 years old and need replacing.

Remember, smoke alarms save lives. Roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. Test your alarms monthly to be sure they work properly.  
This is also a great time to practice your fire escape plan. Make sure to get the family together, and if you haven’t already, plan your escape!

It takes less than five minutes to plan. All you need to do is identify two ways out of every room, establish a meeting place outside, and practice it twice a year. 

Fire Chief Jim Haverfield states, “Once you establish a plan there’s such a relief to know that in case of an emergency, there’s a plan set forth.”

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