Change Your Clock, Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms on November 1st

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1st, when clocks are turned back one hour. The Vista Fire Department reminds everyone that changing your clocks is also a great opportunity to check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout your home.

Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms provide critical early warning during an emergency and can help give you and your family the time needed to safely escape.

Use this weekend as a reminder to complete a quick home safety check:

1. Test Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Press the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm in your home and make sure each alarm sounds properly. Smoke alarms should be tested at least once every month.

2. Check Your Batteries

If your alarms use replaceable batteries, replace the batteries when needed and whenever the alarm signals that the battery is low.

Many newer smoke alarms are equipped with sealed, long-life batteries designed to last for the life of the alarm. These batteries should not be removed or replaced. If a sealed alarm begins chirping or reaches the end of its service life, replace the entire alarm according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Check the Age of Your Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms do not last forever. Check the manufacture date on the back or side of each alarm and replace any smoke alarm that is 10 years old or older.

Carbon monoxide alarms also have a limited service life. Check the manufacturer's instructions or the date printed on the alarm to determine when it should be replaced.

4. Make Sure You Have Enough Alarms

Smoke alarms should be installed:

• Inside every bedroom


• Outside each separate sleeping area


• On every level of your home, including the basement

For the best protection, interconnected smoke alarms are recommended so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound.

5. Know What Your Alarms Are Telling You

Make sure everyone in your household recognizes the sounds of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and knows what to do when they activate.

If a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds during an emergency, get everyone outside, call 911, and remain outside until the Fire Department determines it is safe to return.

6. Review Your Home Escape Plan

Take a few minutes with your family to review how everyone would safely exit the home during a fire. Identify two ways out when possible, establish a meeting place outside, and remind children never to hide from Firefighters.

As you turn your clocks back this weekend, take a few extra minutes to make sure the devices designed to protect your family are ready to do their job.

Change Your Clock. Check Your Alarms. Protect Your Family.

The Vista Fire Department wishes everyone a safe start to the fall and winter season!

Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and U.S. Fire