Red Cross urges residents to test smoke alarms as clocks fall back

As daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 2, the American Red Cross is urging everyone to test their smoke alarms when turning clocks back an hour. Officials say working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. With as little as two minutes to escape a burning home, every second counts. “So far this year, Red Cross volunteers in the Indiana Region have helped 4,326 people affected by 1,144 home fires,” the organization said. “Across the country, the Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters each year – most of them home fires.” The Red Cross recommends testing smoke alarms and replacing batteries this weekend. Alarms should be installed on every level of a home, inside and outside of sleeping areas, and replaced every 10 years. Families are also urged to p