Daylight Saving ends Sunday; It’s time to turn and test
With the end of daylight saving time this upcoming weekend, the American Red Cross of Northern Nevada reminds residents that as the clocks “fall back” on Sunday, Nov. 7, it’s also the perfect time to test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed.
“One of the easiest ways to protect your home and family is to make sure that you have a working smoke alarm” said Mary Powell, executive director of the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross. “Installing a smoke alarm helps prevent injuries, death and destruction of property.”
Powell added that in addition to testing your smoke alarms this weekend, you can get your home ready by installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas and replacing smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
Four fire facts
- On average, seven people die every day from a home fire.
- You have two minutes to escape a burning house.
- Three of every five home-fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
- Smoke alarms cut the risk of death from fire in half.
Ready to make the great escape? You’ll need a Plan
If your home does have working smoke alarms, remember to practice your fire escape plan with family members twice a year; have a meeting spot where everyone can meet at a safe distance and ensure children know what a smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when it goes off. Visit redcross.org for information and tips on preventing home fires.
Don’t be unprepared. Instead, be Red Cross ready
Take advantage of Red Cross disaster preparedness training through the Be Red Cross Ready program, which helps families and individuals become ready for an emergency. Through online materials, participants learn skills to evacuate safely and efficiently from a home fire, emergency, or disaster area. You’ll learn how to Get a Kit; Make a Plan for safe evacuation; and Be Informed of changing and potentially hazardous conditions. Learn more about Red Cross Ready at: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html
About the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter
The American Red Cross of Northern Nevada serves 13 counties and over 87,000 square miles. Our volunteers respond to disasters both locally and nationally in addition to providing training on CPR and community preparedness. The chapter has served northern Nevada for more than 100 years. Follow us on social media FB | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram.
To learn more about the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org.
