Just one simple step can help save your life and the lives of those around you by changing and testing the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on Sunday, March 10 when you change your clocks ahead (“spring ahead”), Bryan G Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire Department urges.

Glassy Mountain Fire Department joins with Energizer® and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign marking its 25th anniversary to save lives and prevent needless injuries. The program urges all Americans to adopt the simple, lifesaving habit to change smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries when daylight savings ends and we change clocks ahead on Sunday, March 10.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs report that communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year, but everyone can work together to help reduce the number of home fire fatalities. Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 66 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries.

“Peak alarm times for home fire deaths is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” said Riebe. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”