Daylight Saving Time 2018: When To Spring Forward In Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Don't forget to "spring forward" this weekend. Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 11. You'll lose an hour of sleep Saturday night and Sunday morning with the switch to Daylight Saving Time.

It will mostly likely be dark outside when you get up, but you'll also get an extra hour of daylight in Minnesota.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says Daylight Saving Time presents a great opportunity to check the proper installation, operation, and maintenance of smoke alarms to reduce the risk of property damage, injuries, and death. You can also install a smoke alarm that has a sealed-in battery that will last 10 years.

In addition to smoke alarms, CO alarms should also be checked this weekend. Carbon monoxide is the invisible killer—it's a colorless, odorless gas and it can kill within minutes.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 42 percent of households report having a working carbon monoxide alarm. Changing the batteries in your smoke and CO alarms is the easiest way to ensure protection of your loved ones and your home in the event of a fire.

Spring into action with these safety tips:

• CPSC recommends that smoke alarms be placed on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms.
• Install both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms. Check out CPSC's Good, Better, Best approach (pdf) to fire safety in your home.
• Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once a month to make sure they are working.
• Have a fire escape plan and practice it with your family.
• A smoke alarm can't save lives if everyone doesn't know what to do when it sounds. Have two ways to get out of each room and set a pre-arranged meeting place outside.
• Children and the elderly can sleep through the sound of a smoke alarm and not hear it go off, so a caregiver needs to be prepared to help others get out of the house.
• And remember, once you are out of the house, stay out.

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