Time to Change the Clocks!
Looking out the window here in Connecticut today and there are surely no signs of spring in sight. When I took the girls out to the bus stop today I think it was only 8 degrees. Yuck. But, the calendar reads that Spring is on Wednesday March 20th! I am hoping for a fast warmup because I have just about had all I can take of being cold. So, with that it is time to change the clocks this weekend. Don’t forget!
Daylight Saving Time begins every year on the second Sunday in March. Clocks are set forward one hour. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 10, 2019.
I thought this would be a good time to give you a few reminders on what to check for at the same time you are changing the clocks.
Smoke Alarms
Three out of every five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Test your smoke alarms every month and replace the battery at least once a year. If the alarm makes a “chirping” sound, replace it immediately.
Smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and in the common areas on each floor of a home. Mount them at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms, less than 12 inches from the ceiling and away from windows, doors and ducts.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Anything that burns fuel can potentially become a source of carbon monoxide, an invisible, odorless gas that can kill. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each bedroom and on every level of the home. The safety tips for CO detectors mirror those of smoke alarms: change the batteries, test them and interconnect them, if possible.
Also, make sure vents for your gas appliances (fireplace, dryer, stove and furnace) are free and clear of snow or debris.
Family Emergency Plan
The National Safety Council recommends every family have an emergency plan in place in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. Spring is a great time to review that plan with family members.
We have a plan in place and usually discuss it during the clock change in the Fall when the local fire departments visit the school. That really gets the kids asking questions which are important in case this situation should ever become a real life scenario.
Have a home and car emergency kit. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says an emergency kit should include one gallon of water per day for each person, at least a three-day supply of food, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, filter mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, and medicines. Visit the FEMA website for a complete list.
The emergency plan also should include:
•A communications plan to outline how your family members will contact one another and where to meet if it’s safe to go outside
•A shelter-in-place plan if outside air is contaminated; FEMA recommends sealing windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting
•A getaway plan including various routes and destinations in different directions
Also, make sure your first aid kit is updated! Check medicines and toss any or dispose of those that are expired. I keep a First Aid kit in my van and I’ve used it more than once even if for just a bandaid from a scraped knee at the playground.
