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Turn clocks forward, test your smoke alarms

Daylight saving time begins this Sunday and the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania reminds everyone to turn your clocks forward one hour and test your smoke alarms.

Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires:

Install smoke alarms on every level of the house, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year.

Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. That’s because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Check the date on smoke alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Practice a two-minute escape plan. Make sure everyone in the household can get out in less than two minutes. It may be all the time there is to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out from every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from the house, such as a landmark like a specific tree in the front yard, where everyone knows where to meet.

Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

“As many as seven people die in this country every day from a home fire, but smoke alarms cut your risk in half,” said Sherry Nealon, executive director of the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter. “Protect your household this weekend. Turn your clocks forward and test your smoke alarms.”

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family, and remember to download the free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores.

The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and most of them are home fires. To help prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign with community partners in 2014 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries.

So far, the Home Fire Campaign has reached more than 2.5 million people and is credited with saving more than 1,200 lives across the country. Visit redcross.org/HomeFireStories to learn more.