Daylight Saving Time's end is ideal time for smoke-alarm check

Spring forward -- Fall back.

That means, since it's now the fall season, owners of clocks and watches should plan to let them "fall back" one hour this weekend as Daylight Saving Time 2011 comes to an end.

The official time change is 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Most people move their clocks and watches back one hour before going to bed Saturday night, to make sure they are not late for church services or other Sunday morning activities.

Although some people may say Daylight Savings Time, the official name is Daylight Saving Time, even though in reality, the amount of daylight in each day remains the same during a Daylight Saving Time period. This year, Daylight Saving Time ran from the second weekend in March until the first weekend in November. The idea is to give people more daylight at the end of each day.

In addition to changing their clocks, the McKinney Fire Department (MFD) is telling residents that this is a good time to consider changing batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

"The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries," said Stacie Durham, MFD public information officer. "The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are sleeping. Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half."

Durham also recommends that the alarms be dusted or vacuumed as the batteries are being changed.

"A great way to clean the alarm is by using canned air, the type used for cleaning your computer keyboard," Durham said. "Also, if you have trouble reaching the test button on your alarm for monthly testing, use the handle of a broom or mop."

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that smoke alarms be tested monthly by pressing the test button, and replacing batteries at least annually, preferably on a designated date such as at the end of Daylight Saving Time.

Durham said the entire alarm system should be replaced if it is more than 10 years old or doesn't work properly when tested.

She also suggested "installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, both inside and outside of sleeping areas, installing both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor alarms, which detect slow, smoldering fires as well as fast flaming fires, and interconnecting smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound."

"To improve chances of surviving a fire, make sure everyone in your home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond," Durham said. "Prepare and practice an escape plan, identify a designated meeting place a safe distance from the fire and where first responders can easily see you."

She said one should call 911 from a safe location, and never go back into a structure that is on fire.

"By taking simple steps, your chances of surviving a fire improve greatly," she said.

For more information about fire and life safety, or to request a program for a group or organization or to schedule a fire and safety visit to a home, call 972-547-2893, go to www.mckinneyfire.org or email Durham at sdurham@mckinneytexas.org.

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