Remember that hour of sleep you lost in March when the nation switched from standard time to daylight saving time?
This weekend, the process will reverse itself, and you'll get back extra hour of sleep when the country officially switches from daylight saving time to standard time at 2 a.m. on Sunday. The easiest way to handle clocks and watches and appliances with built-in timers is to turn them back one hour when going to bed on Saturday.
The Kentucky State Fire Marshal is also reminding Kentuckians to change the batteries in each of their home’s smoke alarms and
ensure that their home heating appliances are in safe working order.
Smoke Detectors
“Early warning is the first line of defense in escaping a fire,” said
William Swope, director of the Public Protection Cabinet’s Division of
Fire Prevention and the state’s fire marshal. “Without a working smoke
detector to issue an early warning, occupants can become trapped by
deadly smoke and heat as the fire spreads quickly throughout a home,
blocking escape routes.”
Smoke detectors should be on every floor of your home, including the
basement and in each sleeping area. “The bottom line is smoke detectors
can save the lives of your family and pets,” said Swope. “It’s simple:
When you set your clocks back, change the batteries in your smoke
alarms.”
Home Heating
Because this week’s forecast calls for mild temperatures, Swope says
that now is also the time to check your home heating appliances or
schedule an inspection with a professional.
“According to national statistics, heating equipment is one of the
leading causes of home fires during the winter months. In fact, half of
all home heating fires occur in December, January and February,” said
Swope.
“The National Fire Protection Association estimates that heating
equipment was involved in about 57,100 reported home structure fires in
2010, which resulted in 490 civilian deaths, 1,530 injuries and cost
more than $1.1 billion in property damage.
