Daylight Savings Time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Clocks need to be set forward to “spring ahead.”
The change is ostensibly made to save energy.
That has been argued about by officials, but most people agree that the extra hour of daylight at the end of a working day and provides more time for recreational activities in the warm weather months from “standard time.”
Fire safety officials use the occasion to remind people to put new batteries in warning devices such as smoke detectors and hazard warning radios.
“Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors save lives, but they’re only effective when they’re working properly,” State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann said.
Before installing a detector or an alarm, Mann suggested writing the purchase date inside the unit. Whether a unit is battery-powered or hardwired, it should be replaced every eight to 10 years. Some newer models have a sealed battery compartment with a lifespan of eight to 10 years, and after that time, a new unit must be purchased.
Working smoke alarms cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Worn or missing batteries are the most common cause of a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector malfunction. Changing the batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to prevent tragic deaths and injuries.
Carbon monoxide is created when combustible materials burn incompletely. Often called “the silent killer,” it is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that can incapacitate victims before they’re aware they’ve been exposed. Sources of carbon monoxide can include wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, gas-fired appliances, grills, and motor vehicles.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for the flu and include nausea, headaches, dizziness, disorientation and fatigue.
Information about how to prevent fires and prepare for emergencies is available online at www.ReadyPA.org.
Daylight savings time ends this year on Nov. 3.