As Daylight Saving Time Ends, Reminder for Home Safety Begins

Northbrook, Ill. - Most of the United States will observe the end of daylight saving time this Sunday by bringing their clocks back an hour, providing an extra hour of sleep. Allstate encourages homeowners to also use this event as a reminder to check and replace batteries in smoke detectors.

Numbers from the National Fire Protection Association show the importance of a working smoke detector, with three out of five reported home fire deaths resulting from fires in homes with no smoke alarm present (37 percent), or where at least one was present but none operated (23 percent).

“The only way smoke detectors can save lives is if they work properly” says Allstate’s Property Claim Director Bryan Corder. “Checking the batteries is an easy task to forget, but it’s an essential one for any homeowner. Hopefully, it will become as natural as changing clocks with the seasons.”

This video from expert contractor Mike Holmes shows how to properly maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Below are five additional fire safety basics from Allstate for homeowners to remember.

• Check smoke detectors every month and replace any that have been around for 10 years or more. Make sure everyone knows that the piercing sound means danger, and they should escape quickly if they hear it.
• Position detectors thoughtfully. Place one on every level of your home and near areas where you and your family sleep.
• Teach children to not hide in closets or under beds when there is a fire. Tell them firefighters may look scary when they’re wearing their protective gear, but they are there to save you.
• Talk with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. Make sure you have at least two ways out of your house. Create a fire safety plan that includes a designated meeting place.
• Take an inventory of your home, creating a record of personal property. In addition to completing an inventory, take photos or videotape your items - it can help make the claims process easier and faster if you have photographic records. Allstate offers a Digital Locker home inventory app for anyone including non-customers to help keep track of your belongings.