Daylight Saving Time Ends Amid Reminders About Checking Smoke Detector Batteries

Posted

Daylight Saving Time Ends 2

Florida - Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend, and that's a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

"We encourage all residents to check their smoke detectors twice a year during the time change," said DBFD Chief Dru Driscoll. "Or, if they're in a financial situation to do so, we highly encourage the new 10 year lithium ion battery smoke detectors to kind of alleviate that hassle each year of changing the batteries."

According to Driscoll, several lives saved each year are attributed to functioning smoke detectors in the home. He said it happens far too often that during fire fatality investigations it's found that the deceased didn't have a functioning smoke detector, either due to an outdated detector or a dead battery.

"As we're reminding the public about a properly working smoke detector, this is also a great time for everyone to have a fire safety exit drill for their home," added Driscoll. "With many young ones in households around our community, oftentimes when the smoke detector sounds or there's a fire, they don't know what to do or where to go." Driscoll recommends coming up with and practicing a home exit plan with a meeting point, like at the mailbox or in the front yard, so parents can make sure everyone got out.

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6 at 2 AM, so don't forget to set your clocks back an hour. And definitely don't forget to change the batteries on your smoke detectors.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2016.