Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, and the American Red Cross of Tennessee is asking households to use the clock change as a reminder to test their smoke alarms.
Why now
"The end of daylight saving time is a good opportunity to test every smoke alarm in your home as you turn your clocks back," said Joel Sullivan, regional chief executive officer of the Red Cross of Tennessee. "Every second counts when there's a home fire. The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place."
What to do
The Red Cross offered these recommendations:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, and replace any that are more than 9 years old.
- Test alarms at least once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
- Make a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room, and make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
- Have your chimney cleaned and checked yearly, and use a metal or glass screen to contain embers.
- Keep a fire extinguisher within easy reach. If a pan catches fire and you have no extinguisher, put a lid on it to smother the flames.
What not to do
- Don't leave fires, candles or plugged-in heating appliances unattended.
- Don't leave the kitchen while cooking, frying or grilling.
- Don't throw water on a grease fire.
- Don't keep items that can catch fire, such as curtains, towel racks or potholders, near the stove, and don't block microwave vents.
- Don't put anything that gives off heat near anything that could burn.
Sources: WBBJ-TV, American Red Cross