Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 3, at 2:00 a.m. Everyone gets an extra hour of sleep! Mornings will be a little brighter, and evenings will be a little darker.
Most Wi-Fi-connected clocks will automatically update the time. However, other clocks, such as appliances, will need to be manually updated. While you are updating the clocks, it’s a great time to update safety items. Make sure your smoke detectors have new batteries, update your Family Emergency Kit and Plan for the colder weather, and that your NOAA Weather Radio is working.
Smoke/Fire/Carbon Monoxide Detectors
One important safety check is ensuring your smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors have new batteries. However, it is more important to check the age of those detectors because they wear out. Most detectors have a manufactured on date stamped inside the back cover. If yours is over 10 years old, it’s time to replace it. New detectors have a 10-year sealed-in battery, so there’s no need to change them. But it is a good idea to test them every week to make sure they’re in good working order. You can learn more about smoke alarms from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Your Emergency Plan
At least twice a year, it’s important to review your emergency plan. Make sure you have a written list of important phone numbers. If there are new important documents that you have from a court or other official source, make sure the originals are in a safety deposit box or fireproof safe and you have copies in a separate safe place. This includes birth certificates, medical records, prescriptions, insurance policies, deeds and titles, and educational transcripts. Here’s a checklist of what needs to go in your plan.
Your Emergency Kit
Now is a good time to check the emergency kits in your home and car to make sure they’re fully stocked and up-to-date. This includes fresh batteries for flashlights and radios. Rotate water and food in your kits, as well as any medicines that you keep in your first aid kits. With the seasonal changes, you may want to update the clothing you keep in your kits with cold-weather shirts, pants, and shoes or boots. Here’s more about what needs to go in your emergency kits.
Around the House
Fall is also an excellent time to check around the house for items that need to be cleaned before winter. Something as simple as the aerators on faucets—just unscrew them, rinse them out, and replace them. Replace filters on your home heating equipment. If your refrigerator has a water filter, it’s also a good idea to change that every six months.
Locate the shutoff valves for water and natural gas service in your home. Turn the water valve off and on a couple of times to make sure it hasn’t frozen shut. Locate the electrical circuit breaker or fuse box in your home, open the door, and inspect it. Look for signs of overheating, such as charred areas around a breaker or fuse. Run your hand over the fuses or breakers to see if any are warmer than usual. If so, call a licensed electrician to ensure no serious problem with your electrical distribution system.
NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio
An important appliance in your home is a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio. Put one in the bedroom and one in the living area so you’ll always know if severe weather is approaching. Make sure they’re plugged into a wall outlet and turned on. Change the backup batteries with the time change. Remember that the newer weather radios can be programmed to alert only for severe conditions in your county.
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