To prevent home fire tragedies, make sure to test your smoke alarms this weekend.

As you turn your clocks back this weekend for the end of daylight saving time, make sure to also test their smoke alarms. As you may know, home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster and tragically take seven lives every day in this country.

It’s the perfect time to test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed, as the clocks “fall back” when daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 6.

In addition to testing your smoke alarms this weekend, follow these three steps to make sure you’re best prepared.

  1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
  2. Replace smoke alarms that are older than 10 years. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm manufacturer’s instructions.
  3. Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — that’s the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out of every room. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or a landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet. Practice your plan until everyone can escape in two minutes or less.

Since October 2014, our Home Fire Campaign, along with community partners, has saved at least 1,928 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing more than 2.4 million free smoke alarms in high-risk homes across the country. Thank you to all the Red Crossers who have supported these lifesaving efforts.