Staff report

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday in Ohio, and the state fire marshal’s office says this is the time to test smoke alarms while moving clocks ahead one hour.

“Smoke alarms are the first warning sign of a fire. These devices give you potentially lifesaving seconds to escape,” fire Marshal Kevin Reardon said. “Working smoke alarms save lives, cutting your risk of dying in a house fire in half.”

A news release states residents should make sure all smoke alarms have a fresh set of batteries and check the expiration date. To find out how old a smoke alarm is, as well as its expiration date, simply look on the back of the alarm where the date of manufacture is marked.

Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from the manufacture date. Any alarms with a manufacture date of 2013 or earlier should be replaced, Reardon said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms that function correctly can reduce the risk of fatalities by nearly 50 percent in house fires.

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, inside and outside of each sleeping area. Ohioans are also encouraged to develop an escape plan with two ways out of every room. Homeowners should make sure every family member knows what to do and where to meet outside if the smoke alarm sounds.

Other tips:

• Never go back into a burning building;

• Taking the time to practice two ways out is vital for knowing what to do in case of a real emergency. Coupled with good home fire safety, an escape plan will help make everyone safe in case of a fire.

news@vindy.com