ATLANTA – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens wants to remind Georgians that when they change their clocks to daylight saving time this year, they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the same time.
Hudgens said the annual change from standard time to daylight saving time, is a good time to make sure your smoke alarm is working as it should.
“Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms didn’t function because of dead batteries,” Hudgens said. “If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it’s in working order. Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.”
So far in 2015, there have been 28 fire fatalities in Georgia. In 22 of those fires, investigators were unable to determine if the home had a working smoke alarm present.
Hudgens also recommended changing batteries in flashlights and weather radios, and having an emergency plan in place in case severe weather threatens.
Federal law specifies that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, when clocks are set ahead one hour.