Author: Kirsten Barber
Disaster can strike at any time, in any season. Practicing emergency plans regularly and updating emergency supplies semi-annually is an important and even lifesaving habit to keep.
Clocks will be moving forward by one hour at 2 o’clock on Sunday (March 10) morning, signifying that we’re days away from the official first day of spring. Daylight Savings Time happens twice a year and are perfect times to check through your home to ensure you have the proper tools to help you through an emergency.
If you didn’t kick off the year with an emergency kit and plan in place, daylight savings is the ideal time to start. As you are checking your clocks, check around the house for items that are key components of an emergency kit: Bottled water, non-perishable foods, first aid items, flashlight, personal hygiene necessities, extra batteries, etc. By checking your emergency supplies twice a year, you can ensure you won’t run into expired food or are missing other necessities when you need them most.
However, the time isn’t the only thing you should be changing during daylight savings. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors run on batteries and can only do their job while the batteries last. Replace the batteries in all detectors during the time change every year. Once the batteries are replaced, test each system to ensure it is working properly. Also check the manufacturer’s recommended replacement age. If your detector is past it’s prime, it may be time to invest in a new one. If the batteries still have some charge left, save them for children’s toys, the remote or other electronic devices.
During spring Daylight Savings Time, you may be “losing an hour,” but taking these steps will help you gain confidence that you are ready in case of an emergency.