This Sunday March 13th at 2:00 A.M. reflects the start of Daylight Savings time. This annual change in the clocks should also serve as a reminder to change the batteries in your smoke detectors (wireless and hard wired alarms) and in your carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke detectors save lives, so please take the time to make this effort.

A home fire impacts the life of an American family every 85 seconds. By providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape, smoke alarms cut in half your family's risk of dying in a home fire — but only if they work. So, when you turn your clocks ahead on March 13th, also make a lifesaving change in your household — change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This simple habit takes just a moment, but is the best defense your family has against the devastating effects of a home fire.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that 71% of smoke alarms which failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries, making it important to take this time each year to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.