Turn baack your clock and test your smoke alarms, says Red Cross

As daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3, the American Red Cross urges everyone to use this opportunity to test their smoke alarms when they set their clocks back. Working smoke alarms are essential—they can cut the risk of death in a home fire by half, giving you the precious minutes needed to escape safely.

“Every second counts in a fire emergency,” says Rodrigo Carillo, Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross of Illinois. “Since you may have as little as two minutes to exit safely, having a working alarm is critical.”

Last year alone, local Red Cross volunteers helped more than 7,600 people across Illinois affected by over 1,500 home fires. Fires account for most of the 65,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to nationwide each year.

Here are a few ways you can increase your household’s safety:

• Check your smoke alarms as you turn back your clocks this weekend. Replace batteries if needed.
• Install alarms on every level of your home, inside and outside of bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Replace alarms that are 10 years or older, as the sensors may lose sensitivity over time.
• Practice a two-minute escape plan with your family. Include two ways out of each room and establish a safe meeting point outside.

If you need assistance with smoke alarms, the Red Cross may be able to help. Learn more about fire safety, make an escape plan, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by visiting redcross.org/fire.

The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, started in October 2014, has saved at least 2,196 lives by working with communities across the U.S. to educate families on fire safety, create escape plans, and install free smoke alarms in high-risk areas. Visit redcross.org/homefires to learn more about how you can get involved.