Daylight Savings Day is scheduled for this Sunday November 1, 2020! Hard to believe it is already time to fall back! Daylight Savings is when we recommend testing/ changing your smoke and CO detectors! Here are some additional tips to ensure your family stays safe!

1.) Change the batteries of your smoke/CO detectors, we recommend replacing batteries twice a year. ( if your detectors do not have an accessible battery or are hard wired- check the date of install, if its older than 10 years replace it!)

2.) If your battery operated smoke/ CO alarm is older than 10 years, replace it! Many smoke and CO detectors can be found at any hardware store or big box retailer.

3.) Check to make sure your smoke/CO detectors are installed in the proper locations around your house:

-Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in a central location or near the stairway to the upper level. Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet from cooking appliances to minimize false alarms.

- CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. Standard smoke alarms do not detect carbon monoxide.

4.) Lastly, ensure that everyone in the residence knows what to do if a smoke or CO detector sounds.

These steps are crucial in making sure everyone is safe in the event of a fire or CO incident. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, three out of every five (3/5) home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%), and no working smoke alarms (21%). Additionally, dead batteries caused one-quarter (24%) of the smoke alarm failures.