The American Red Cross doesn’t want anyone to miss a beat this Sunday – but they should also take some time to check their smoke alarms while changing their clocks.
Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 12, and the American Red Cross of Wyoming reminds everyone to turn their clocks forward one hour and test their smoke alarms. In addition, everyone is encouraged to “Turn and Test” – check the snow alarms in their residence and discuss safety with their families, as these could be lifesaving steps in the event of a home fire.
The American Red Cross of Wyoming recommends all Wyomingites do the following this Sunday:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
- Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older.
- Sensors become less sensitive over time. Check the date of your smoke alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Practice your two-minute escape plan.
- Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or a landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet.
- Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like.
- Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.
Courtesy Unsplash & Josue Rosales
Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by over 50%.
“As many as seven people die in this country every day from a home fire, but smoke alarms cut your risk in half,” said Janet Lewis, executive director, the Red Cross of Wyoming. “Protect your household this weekend. Turn your clocks forward and test your smoke alarms.”
Visit the American Red Cross’s fire website for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download our free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores.
The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and most of them are home fires. To help prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, the Red Cross launched the the Home Fire Campaign with community partners in 2014 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries.
Recently, with support from thousands of community partners, the campaign met its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making one million households safer across the country. So far, the Home Fire Campaign is credited with saving more than 1,583 lives in the U.S.
Home fires remain a daily threat and the campaign has made a lifesaving difference. The Red Cross will continue the program with community partners as part of its standard services across the country.
