Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends Sunday morning, November 3, 2024, at 2 am. It is time to fall back by setting your clocks back one hour and enjoy an extra hour of sleep.
This Sunday, November 3, marks the end of daylight saving time. As we set our clocks back one hour, Statesboro and Bulloch County residents are reminded to prioritize safety with a simple, but potentially life-saving action—checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Local fire departments encourage the community to use the twice-a-year clock change as a reminder to inspect and, if necessary, replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Statesboro Fire Department Chief Tim Grams emphasizes that working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can double the chances of escaping a fire safely.
This simple check can be especially crucial in colder months, as residents start using heating sources that carry fire risks.
Bulloch County Fire Chief Ben Tapley notes that while many alarms now come with built-in ten-year batteries, checking their function is still essential.
“It’s not just about changing the batteries,” he says. “It’s also about making sure each alarm works as it should. The time change is a great opportunity to do these checks before the winter months when incidents tend to rise.”
In addition to replacing batteries, local fire officials advise testing each alarm by pressing the test button to ensure the device functions properly. If your detector fails the test or is more than ten years old, it’s time for a replacement. Residents should also make sure alarms are installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
The Statesboro Fire Department and Bulloch County Fire Department offer a battery replacement program for senior citizens and individuals who may need help reaching or testing their alarms.
For more information on this program or other fire safety tips, residents can contact the Statesboro Fire Department at 912-764-3473 or Bulloch County Fire Department at (912) 489-1661.
So, as clocks roll back this Sunday, take a moment to enhance your home’s safety. This simple action could make a significant difference in the event of an emergency.