Change Clocks this weekend

This weekend everyone gains an extra hour.  Daylight Savings Time ends on Saturday night and a good way to keep the right time is to move your clocks and watches back one hour before going to bed. The time-change weekend is also a reminder to change the batteries in smoke alarms, explains Oconee County Assistant Fire Chief Shane Gibbs.  “Two times a year we ask residents if that have smoke alarms to change their batteries whether they need changing or not.  In the spring when we spring ahead an hour is a good time to change your battery and then we are getting ready to come up on another time change this weekend where we fall back an hour.  That is just a good reminder to open your smoke alarm up, change it out with a fresh 9-volt battery, test it to make sure it is in working condition and actually clean the unit.  Sometimes dust will accumulate on the inside of the unit, take your vacuum cleaner and vacuum it out.  Smoke alarms are your first alert in your home that you have a home fire.  Make sure you have an escape plan and as part of that escape plan make sure you have a meeting place outside of your home where everybody is supposed to meet in case you have a home fire.” Smoke alarms are available to community residents who need them, adds Chief Gibbs.  “Contact your local fire department or contact Oconee County Emergency Services to get a smoke alarm and/or batteries.” Remember this Saturday night when you change your clocks before going to bed also check the batteries in your smoke alarms.