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SALT LAKE CITY — Remember that high-pitched, annoying "beep" that sounded throughout your house in the middle of the night?
Remember how you took the batteries out of the whining smoke detector and never thought about it again?
Well, with daylight saving time ending on Sunday, now is the best time to check in with that smoke detector and make sure the batteries are replaced, the American Red Cross says. Be sure to knock your clocks back an hour Saturday night before the time shift happens at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.
"Something that a lot of individuals aren't familiar with is that when there is a home fire, the predominant goal is to get out within two minutes — 120 seconds. And if we're asleep, or in another part of the house, that doesn't change the amount of time we have to get out. ... We need to make sure that we have that alarm sound in our homes. ... That type of preparedness and safety is so critical to make sure that individuals get out of their homes fast enough," said Benjamin Donner, the executive director of the American Red Cross in central and southern Utah.
The American Red Cross has named this month "Utah Turn and Test November" in an effort to have homeowners test their smoke detectors and replace the batteries — especially when house fire risks increase in the winter.
A press release sent by the Red Cross said in 2022, disaster volunteers and staff responded to more than 300 home fires and helped over 800 Utahns with information, financial assistance and emotional support. The release said, "Home fires are the nation's most common disasters."
This is also a time to remind homeowners that smoke detectors older than 10 years need to be replaced, even if they seem to be in good shape.
DWR urges drivers to slow down due to daylight saving time
As daylight saving time approaches, DWR is asking drivers to keep an eye out for wildlife visiting the valleys looking for food in the dark.Donner said if anyone has trouble testing a smoke detector, replacing the batteries or replacing the unit, the Red Cross will come to your home to do it for free.
"Every day across the United States, seven people unfortunately lose their lives on average, due to house fires. It's our mission to help move that needle in the other direction," Donner said.
To ask the Red Cross for help, visit soundthealarm.org/utah to make an appointment.
Donner encouraged renters who don't have control over their smoke detectors to reach out to the property owners to make sure everything is updated.
