Daylight savings time officially ends at 2:00 am this Sunday, November 6. Changing the clocks serves as a good time to remind people to make sure your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and emergency alert radios are working properly.
Marshall County Emergency Management Director, Clyde Avery said, “Cold weather is just around the corner and we will all be utilizing various heating sources to stay warm. Smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide detectors save lives.”
At a minimum, there should be one working smoke detector on each floor of the home, including the basement. Ideally, one alarm should be installed outside of each bedroom in a residence.
Alarms should be tested at least once a month to ensure they are working properly. All alarms that are more than 10 years old should be replaced. Alarms are now available with long-life lithium-powered batteries.
It is also a good time to review your family emergency plan. Your plan should include at least two different ways each family member could escape various parts of the house and establishes a designated point outside the house where everyone should meet after escaping.
For more information on developing a family emergency plan, contact the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency at 574-936-3740.
