Set your clocks ahead on Sunday – Make a home safety check

DEM Blogger

March 12, 2022

Remember this Sunday, March 13, is the start of Daylight Savings Time.  That’s means you should set your clocks AHEAD one hour. You may lose a little sleep, but gain some daylight in the afternoon.  The official start to Spring is just one week away.

With the time change, Lexington Emergency Management would like you to take a few minutes and go through a home safety check.

Smoke, fire and CO detectors

• Check each device to make sure that it’s less than 10 years old. Most have a “manufactured on” date that you can check. Replace any alarm that is 10 years old and older. They DO wear out. If the alarms use a regular battery, replace them with new batteries. Check the test button to make sure the alarms work.  NOTE: Newer alarms have permanent 10-year batteries that don’t need to be replaced. After 10 years, you should replace the entire unit.

Emergency Kits

• Make sure that your emergency kit has what you need to be self-sufficient for three days.  Food, water, a first aid kit, flashlights, battery-operated radio, season appropriate clothes and an extra pair of shoes for starters. Extra batteries and a cell phone charger.  Here’s more on what your kit should have.  Don’t forget your pets. They need a kit, too.

Emergency Plan

• Your emergency plan should have an out-of-town emergency contact that family members will call or text to let others know they’re OK in case of an emergency or disaster that ties up normal phone lines. That contact should be able to receive a regular phone call, text message or email. Make sure everyone has the phone number and email address. Even more important: MAKE SURE YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT KNOWS THEY’RE YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT!  Here’s more about what you need in your emergency plan. 

NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio

• The most important small appliance in your home is a NOAA Weather Radio.  If you don’t have one, get one. For about $30, you can be sure you get all of the up-to-date advisories, watches and warnings for your county. Most of them have a spot for backup batteries, so even during a power outage, you’ll get the latest forecast, watch and warning information. Here’s more on what a NOAA All-Hazards Weather offers.