On November 3, “Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries®”

Three minutes. That’s how much time families have on average to get out of their homes after an alarm from a smoke detector. However, those life-saving minutes only occur when detectors are fully powered and operational.

Fortunately, three minutes is also a good average for the time it takes to change batteries in smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and other devices in a home. There’s no better time to do it than when you’re already changing your clocks at the end of daylight-saving time on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

This is the 32nd year of this lifesaving message: the importance of checking the power and functionality of smoke detectors, smoke alarms and other key safety devices throughout homes.

The smoke alarm remains among the most important battery-powered home devices. A recent study showed that 71 percent of smoke alarms that failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half.