Time to Fall Back

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens wants to remind Georgians that it is time again to change their clocks from daylight saving time back to standard time—and they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms (smoke detectors) at the same time.

"Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms did not function because of dead batteries," Hudgens said.  "If you do not have a smoke alarm, you need to get one.  If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it is in working order.  Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property.  Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.”

Hudgens also recommends changing batteries in flashlights and weather radios, and having an emergency plan in place in case severe weather threatens.

“So far this year there have been six fire fatalities in dwellings with no smoke alarms, and six fatalities involving non-working smoke alarms,” Hudgens said.

Daylight saving time ends Sun., Nov. 6 at 2 a.m., when clocks are set back one hour.