Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 2, and marks the 27th year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program, sponsored by Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® Program reminds people to change and test the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The message is simple and the habit can be lifesaving.

Authorities remind residents that one simple step can help save their lives and the lives of those around them. Everyone is encouraged to use the extra hour they “gain” from Daylight Saving Time to change the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, test alarms and remind friends, family, neighbors and fellow community members to do the same.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 71 percent of smoke alarms which failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, testing those alarms and reminding others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries.

Tragically, home fires injure and kill thousands each year. Those most at risk include:

• Children – Home fires kill 500 children ages 14 and under each year. Roughly three‐quarters of child fire fatalities under age 15 occurred in homes without working smoke alarms.
• Seniors – Adults 75 and older are 2.8 times more likely to die in a home fire.

Twenty‐seven years ago, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs recognized a disturbing trend that many home fire fatalities were taking place in homes without working smoke alarms. So through the years, the two have worked together along with thousands of fire departments nationwide on the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program to help reduce and hopefully, someday eliminate this number by reminding communities to check, change and test their smoke alarm batteries. Twenty-seven years ago, there was no Facebook, Twitter, email and other tools to quickly and easily share this kind of information. Now people all have countless ways to spread the word, so activate your network of friends and connections to help save lives in connection with the time change.

Fire statistics were obtained from reports by the Fire Analysis and Research Division of the National Fire Protection Association. See www.nfpa.org for more information