Remember to Fall Back & Safety Check This Weekend

John Bobel

November 3, 2021

It’s a big weekend and not just because of the time change.

Remember, on Saturday, Nov. 6., turn back your clocks one hour as we resume Eastern Standard Time. An hour of extra sleep goes a long way. Also, remember that it will be lighter in the morning, but it will start getting dark around 5 pm.  The days will keep getting shorter for another six weeks until Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year with just 8.5 hours of daytime.

So, what should you do with that extra hour of energy that you just picked up?

1. Check the fire/smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Take them off the wall and give them a good dusting or gentle vacuuming. Look for the date the detector was manufactured. If the device is ten years old or older, it’s time to replace it.  If it has a changeable battery, replace it with a fresh set. Some newer detectors have a permanent battery that lasts ten years. When in doubt, replace it. 
2. While you’re checking batteries, pull out your home and car emergency kits and check the flashlights and extra batteries. A good addition is a cell phone charger for your home kit and a battery jump-start device for your car. Most of the big jump start kits can charge your cell phone several times.
3. Make sure your emergency kit has the right kind of clothing in it for your family. For example, you may have swapped out older winter clothes for summer. Now, set aside at least one change of winter clothes for each family member.
4. If you have food and medicine in your emergency kits, check the expiration dates on those items. If you have meds you take for a continuing or chronic condition, rotate newer meds for the ones in your kit.
5. Pull out your emergency plan and check phone numbers, addresses and contacts. Make sure you have an out-of-town contact that you can call or text to say, “I’m OK.” That person will take care of telling others that you’re OK and, if necessary, what kind of help you need.