CUSTER COUNTY–It’s that time of year again! The weather may be inconsistent but your evenings will include more sunlight with the annual “spring forward” time change taking place this weekend. The beginning of Daylight Saving Time will be on Sunday, March 8. The change will take place at 2 a.m. on Sunday, so it is recommended to turn your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.
According to timeanddate.com, sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on Sunday (March 8, 2020) than the day before. This event is also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.
As posted in a March 4 article, the American Red Cross reminds everyone it is also a good time to TEST the batteries in their smoke alarms as they TURN their clocks ahead one hour.
It’s also a good time to take these lifesaving steps to prepare for home fires, the nation’s most frequent disaster:
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. Place them inside and outside bedrooms, and sleeping areas.
Test smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it. Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
Practice your home fire escape plan in two minutes or less. Include at least two ways to get out from every room. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet. Practice your plan until everyone can escape in two minutes or less — the amount of time that fire experts say you have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.
