Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m. And, as most states do twice a year, it’s time again for Georgians to change their clocks.
Before going to bed Saturday night, move your clock’s time up one hour so you’ll be on time Sunday. It’s also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke alarms.
Saving time and lives
Fire safety experts advise that smoke alarm batteries should be changed twice a year. Changing them in conjunction with the start and end of Daylight Saving Time makes it easy to remember.
It could be the difference between life and death.
“A smoke alarm’s life-saving capacity ends when it runs out of batteries,” reminds Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King.
So far in 2023, there have been at least 27 home fire fatalities in Georgia, with several homes having nonfunctioning smoke alarms or no smoke alarms present.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the death rate in homes without functioning smoke alarms was more than twice as high compared to homes with working smoke alarms between 2014 and 2018.
Remember to test and clean dust from smoke alarms monthly to ensure they work when needed.
More information on fire safety can be obtained from the state fire commissioner’s office, the U.S. Fire Administration, the American Red Cross, or your local fire station.
Habersham County residents who have questions about their smoke alarms may call Habersham County Emergency Services at (706) 839-0570 during business hours.
