Daylight Saving Time - Time to Turn and Test

Help Flood Victims Across the South, American Red Cross

March 11, 2016

It’s time to turn the clocks ahead and lose an hour of sleep this weekend when Daylight Saving Time kicks in at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. The American Red Cross reminds everyone to TEST the batteries in their smoke alarms as they TURN their clocks forward an hour.

This weekend is also a good time for everyone to take these steps to make sure their household is prepared for emergencies.

Check smoke alarm batteries. When turning the clocks ahead, take a few minutes to replace the smoke alarm batteries if needed and push the test button to make sure the alarms are working. It’s also a great time to check carbon monoxide detectors.

Install smoke alarms. If you don’t have smoke alarms, install them. At a minimum, put one on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Check local building codes for additional requirements.

Practice an escape plan. Make sure everyone in the household knows how to get out of every room and how to get out of the home in less than two minutes.

Get a kit. Keep disaster supplies in an easy-to-carry bag to use at home or carry in case ordered to evacuate.

Make a plan. Have all household members plan what steps they should take if an emergency occurs.

Be informed. Learn what emergencies can occur in the area and how officials notify residents should a disaster occur.

Home Fire Campaign The American Red Cross and thousands of Home Fire Campaign partners have helped save at least 77 lives and installed more than a quarter of a million smoke alarms in homes all across the country since the campaign launched in October of 2014.

The Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign to reduce the number of people who die or are injured during a fire in their home by 25 percent. Working with fire departments and community groups across the country, the Red Cross is installing free home smoke alarms in neighborhoods at high risk for fires and teaching residents about fire prevention and preparedness. The Red Cross and its partners have taught 443,000 youth to be safer in emergencies and installed 264,000 smoke alarms in 4,500 cities and towns in all 50 states.

People can visit redcross.org to find out more about how to protect themselves and their loved homes from fire or contact their local Red Cross to find out about smoke alarm installation events in their community.

They can also help by volunteering their time or making a donation today to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.