Change your batteries and clocks + check your preparedness stocks this weekend

This Sunday is the start of Daylight Savings Time meaning most people will lose an hour when they “spring forward”.

Did you know…

• Arizona (with the exception of Navajo Nation) and Hawaii and the US Territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Virgin Islands) do not observe DST.
• All of Canada (with the exception of most of Saskatchewan, which observes Central Standard Time year-round even though it is in the Mountain Zone) observes DST.
• Most areas of North America and Europe observe daylight saving time, while most areas of Africa and Asia do not.
• In South America most countries in the north of the continent near the equator do not observe DST, while Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay and southern parts of Brazil do.
• Oceania is also mixed, with New Zealand and parts of southern Australia observing DST, while most other areas do not.

Confusing … yep, but wherever you are this weekend, set aside some time to change your batteries and clocks … and check your preparedness stocks!

Some things to consider doing include…

• Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors around your home. And remember to test them at least once a month and replace your detectors every 10 years.

• Also test and rotate batteries in your Weather Radios so you are ready for spring storms and severe weather.

• Check and rotate out water, food, medications and other items in your home, vehicles, office and locker preparedness kits. And don’t forget to include items for your pets!

• If you don’t already run monthly or quarterly drills, prepare and practice escape plans so you and your loved ones can get out of your home safely in case of fire. Tips: Draw a floor plan of your home showing doors, windows and stairways. Mark locations of first aid and disaster kits, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, ladders, and utility shut-off points. Next, use a colored pen to draw a broken line charting at least 2 escape routes from each room. Then practice, practice, practice!

• Update your Family Emergency Plan (e.g. confirm meeting places [esp with your children in case you are separated during an emergency], ensure all phone #s are current, etc.)

• Go through your Important Family Documents to ensure everything is current (e.g. wills, insurance policies, immunization and medical data, credit card #s, recent photos of family and pets, etc.) And if you gave copies of this data to any other family members, make sure they get updates too.

For more information about how to make a Family Emergency Plan and tips on developing kits and more, visit usfra.org/fedhealth to download a free 65-page ebook compliments of Fedhealth and the U.S. First Responders Association.

Stay safe and have a great weekend everyone! j & B