Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6, so remember to turn your clocks back one hour and don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms as well.

With colder weather and the approaching holidays, home furnaces, fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances will get more use, making working smoke and CO alarms a necessity. More than 400 people die from CO poisoning annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The majority of CO deaths occur between November and February.

A new CPSC report estimates there were about 346,800 residential fires in 2019, resulting in about 2,490 deaths, 11,760 injuries and $7.38 billion in property damage.

Use the gained hour this Daylight Saving Time to protect your family:

• Test smoke and CO alarms monthly to make sure they are working. CPSC recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas. CO alarms should be installed on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
• Change the batteries: Batteries should be replaced in alarms at least once each year, unless the alarms have sealed 10-year batteries. Replace the smoke alarm if it is more than 10 years old.
• Make a fire escape plan: Make sure there are two ways out from each room and a clear path to outside from each exit. Once out, stay out of the house.
• Close bedroom doors: During a fire, closed bedroom doors can slow the spread and allow extra moments to get to safety