Daylight Saving Time kicks in at 2 a.m. Sunday, and woe be to you if you forget to set your clock an hour ahead and show up late for church or the Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade.

It’s also the time of year when the Plainfield Fire Protection District reminds residents that they should change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly, Plainfield fire inspector Mary Ludemann said in a media release on the subject. And if the device is 10 years old or older, it’s probably time to get a new one, she said.

Statistics show that working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50 percent because they provide the early warning needed to be able to escape, Ludemann said. There should be smoke alarms on every level of a home, including the basement, in the hallway outside of bedrooms and also inside each bedroom. 

This is also a good time of the year to develop and practice a home escape plan, Ludemann said. The plan should identify two ways out of every room (including windows) and a meeting place outside where all members of your household can gather together.

Include who will be responsible for helping young children, elderly, or disabled family members to escape. Homes with upper stories should have an escape ladder, which can be purchased at most hardware and general merchandise stores.

For more information, call the Plainfield Fire Protection District at 815-436-5335 or visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/campaigns/smokealarms/ or www.plainfieldfpd.com. 

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