In addition to setting your clocks ahead an hour at 2am Sunday… it’s also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Each year more than 386,000 residential fires result in nearly 2,400 deaths in the U.S.  Nearly two-thirds of the fire deaths occur in homes where there are no properly working smoke alarms.  Smoke detectors should be set up on every level of the home, inside and outside each bedroom.  Batteries should be replaced at least once every year and tested monthly.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, carbon monoxide was to blame for an average of 183 unintentional, non-fire deaths between 2006 and 2008.  The odorless and colorless poisonous gas is called the “invisible killer” because victims usually don’t know they’re being poisoned.  Carbon monoxide alarms should also be set up on each level of your home.