While I am looking forward to spring, I am not excited about “springing forward.” The idea of losing a precious hour of sleep is not a particularly pleasant one, although Daylight Savings Time gives me the perfect opportunity to remember to change the batteries in the smoke alarms in my house! The batteries in smoke alarms should be changed at least once a year, although lots of people will do it twice a year- when they spring forward and fall back- which makes it easier to remember. On Saturday night when I am setting the clocks in my house an hour later, I can stop at each smoke alarms and put in a new battery.

To make sure smoke alarms are working properly, remember to test the batteries once a month by pushing the button and make sure to vacuum them once a month according to the manufacturer’s instructions, so dust and cobwebs don’t cause the smoke alarm to malfunction.

If you’ve been neglecting your smoke alarms, this would be the perfect time pay some attention to them! Your smoke alarms should be located on each level of your home and near bedrooms. So change those batteries and don’t forget to check them once a month! It could even save a life!And – how cool is this: for the month of March, when you order a Domino’s Pizza delivery, it could arrive at your door on a fire truck! If you have working smoke detectors in your house, then the pizza will be FREE! That’s right – free pizza. If the smoke alarms are not working, the firefighters will replace the batteries and/or smoke alarm.

Elena Sabin is the Community Disaster Education Specialist for the St. Louis Area Chapter.