Turn and test to keep your home safe

As daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 2, we will turn our clocks back an hour. While you’re adjusting your clocks, take a few minutes to test your smoke alarms. This simple action could protect you and your family in the event of a home fire.

“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half,” says Emily Holley, Regional Communications Manager for the Nebraska-Iowa Red Cross. “You only have about two minutes to escape a burning home safely. Every second counts, and the sooner an alarm alerts you, the sooner you can get to safety.”

That’s why the American Red Cross is urging everyone to use the end of daylight saving time as a cue to check their smoke alarms and make sure they’re functioning properly. It’s a quick task that can have a lasting impact.

Home fires are the most common disaster. In our Nebraska-Iowa region alone, Red Cross volunteers have responded to over 800 home fires this year, helping nearly 3,000 people affected by these emergencies. Nationwide, home fires make up the majority of the roughly 65,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to annually.

Early warning is key to preventing home fire tragedies, making working smoke alarms crucial.

Smoke Alarm Safety Tips

Here are a few essential tips from the Red Cross to keep your household safe:

• Test your smoke alarms when you turn your clocks back. If the batteries are low or dead, replace them immediately.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

• Replace alarms that are 10 years or older. Over time, sensors can become less sensitive, reducing the effectiveness of the device.

  
  

Create and Practice Your Escape Plan

Having working smoke alarms is only part of the equation. You also need an escape plan. Make sure everyone in your home can get out in less than two minutes – the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late.

• Make sure your plan includes two ways out of every room in your home.

• Choose a safe meeting spot outside, such as a neighbor’s house.

• Go over the plan with everyone in your household, including children, and run through it regularly.

  
  

Tools to Help You Prepare

The Red Cross offers several resources to help you stay safe:

• Visit redcross.org/fire for detailed information on fire safety and escape planning.

• Download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store. It includes fire safety tips, emergency alerts and more.

  
  

A Small Step That Makes a Big Difference

Testing your smoke alarms might only take a few minutes, but it’s one simple way to protect your household. Fires can happen at any time, and being prepared can save lives.

So, this weekend, as you enjoy that extra hour of sleep, take a moment to make sure your smoke alarms are ready to do their job. It’s a small step that could make all the difference.