Hopefully local residents remembered to set their clocks ahead one hour before they went to sleep on Saturday night as Daylight Saving Time went into effect at 2:00 am on Sunday, March 9th.
Things to know about Daylight Saving Time
In the spring, the clocks move forward one hour, meaning the sun sets an hour later in the evening and rises an hour later in the morning.
Digital clocks like the ones on cellphones will automatically change. Analog clocks and any clocks that do not automatically adjust will need to be reset manually.
With the change, we lose an hour of sleep.
Louisiana State Fire Marshall Encourages Check of Smoke Alarms
Another tradition involving Daylight Saving Times encouraged to follow by Louisiana State Fire Marshall Chief Bryan J. Adams is to check your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to ensure they are in good working order.
“Last year, we lost 73 Louisianans in residential fires. Only three of those had working smoke alarms. Every home should have working smoke alarms. Now is the perfect time to make sure those devices in your home are, in fact, working,,” said Adams.
When checking the status of these devices to determine whether a new battery is needed, also take note of their age. If you know, or suspect, that your smoke or CO alarms are older than 10 years, it is highly recommend upgrading to the 10-year, sealed battery alarms that don’t require any battery replacement through their lifetime. These newer alarms will, however, require pressing the “test” button once a month to ensure the devices are in working order. Your family should practice a home escape plan at the same time which should include knowing two ways out of every room in your home and having an outdoor meeting place.
How To Get A Smoke Alarm
If you do not have a smoke alarm, and cannot afford one, Operation Save-A-Life program can help. The program partners our agency with local fire departments to install smoke alarms for free for families that need them most. To learn more about the program and register for a smoke alarm, visit lasfm.org. You can also contact your local fire department to request a smoke alarm installation.
