CHICAGO, IL – It’s that time of year again: daylight saving time is ending, and while many may celebrate their car clocks displaying the correct time once more, safety experts urge the public to see this as a critical reminder for home safety checks.
As clocks retreat one hour tonight, it’s not just about gaining an extra hour of sleep or adjusting your schedule. This is the perfect opportunity to perform essential maintenance on smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, which often go unnoticed in the hustle of daily life.
The end of daylight saving time serves as a biannual reminder to not only adjust clocks but also to ensure that your household safety devices are functioning correctly. Replacing batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can be lifesaving, and the time change provides an easy-to-remember cue to perform this task.
Beyond the obvious time adjustments, here are some simple steps to ensure your safety as we ‘fall back’:
- Test and Replace: Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing batteries as needed.
- Check Expiration Dates: Did you know these devices have expiration dates? Check yours and replace any device that’s out of date.
- Plan Your Escape: Use the time change as a prompt to review and practice your home escape plan.
- Safety Inspection: Give your home a safety inspection looking for any fire hazards or other safety risks.
While it’s easy to enjoy the quirk of your car clock being right without any effort, using this time as a prompt for these critical checks can make a significant difference in your home’s safety. This simple routine could potentially save lives.
