Daylight Saving Time: The perfect time to test your smoke alarms

THE WOODLANDS, TX — Daylight Saving Time begins early this upcoming Sunday morning, making it the perfect reminder time for everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn their clocks forward to make sure the devices are working.

According to Red Cross statistics, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out. Over the past year, more than 2,000 families in the Texas Gulf Coast Region were affected by home fires.

When turning your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries. It's also a good idea to formulate an escape plan and practice with your family. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas and your kitchen. Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Practice getting out of your house in the dark in under two minutes, having multiple routes available for each room or exit; be sure everyone in the family knows the rallying point outside so that all can easily be accounted for.

For those who are elderly or infirm, contact your local fire department's non-emergency line; they are typically able to send out a crew to take care of your fire alarm issues for you.