Home safety audit for Daylight Savings Time

It’s almost time to turn back the clocks and gain an hour of sleep when Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 6. 

Having a universal day set on the calendar for resetting to Standard Time is also a useful reminder for other regular tasks that should be undertaken for the safety and security of your home.

Change the clocks, change the batteries

“The changing of the clocks is a perfect opportunity for a seasonal home safety check,” says Namita Gupta, Senior Marketing Manager for Rayovac at Spectrum Brands. “Checking and changing the batteries in all household devices can mean the difference between life and death, so take a few extra minutes to make sure everything is running the way it should.

Rayovac is committed to helping you keep your family safe; so here are a few devices you should include in your seasonal home safety check:

• Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert and can double your family’s chances of surviving a house fire. But your smoke alarm is only effective if you continue to test its batteries a minimum of twice a year, or every time you change your clock for daylight savings.
• The risks in our home go beyond smoke and fire. Daylight Savings Time should also be the time to get into the simple, life-saving habit of changing and testing the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors. It is a good idea to replace any devices that are five years or older.
• House phones and flashlights are two very important household items. Make sure batteries are replaced on a regular basis so they are ready for use at all times. A portable charger can also be very handy in case these do not work the way you planned during an emergency.
  
• A fire extinguisher is a must-have item in any home. The metal valve at the top of the extinguisher will tell you if it needs to be recharged or refilled at your local fire station.

Bonus tip: don’t toss old batteries just yet. While they are not good enough for emergency devices, they will most likely still work in children’s toys, music players or other electronic devices.

Once they are completely finished, be sure to recycle! Free battery collection sites are now commonplace across Canada and can be found at recycling depots, retail locations, community centres and non-profit offices. Check out your local municipality’s battery drop-off instructions to learn exactly how to recycle your old batteries.

“Choosing the right battery is crucial to your family’s safety,” adds Namita. “Rayovac Batteries are known as the best option for use in smoke detectors, home security systems, and other devices that need long-term power and will keep you and your family safe.”