Test and Turn
As you turn your clocks to spring forward this weekend for daylight saving time, please also test your smoke alarms.
Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, claiming seven lives every day in the U.S. But a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half.
You can also prepare your household by following the steps below.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Place them inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- Test smoke alarms monthly. Change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it. Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
- Practice your home fire escape plan in two minutes or less. Include at least two ways to get out of every room. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet. Practice your plan until everyone can escape in two minutes or less — the amount of time that fire experts say you have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.
For more information, visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).