Bellone Offers Safety Reminders for the End of Daylight Saving Time

This weekend marks the start of Eastern Standard Time, and as we fall back and adjust schedules, County Executive Bellone offers additional tips to keep your home safe.

“As this weekend marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, please take the opportunity to ensure your home is safe,” said County Executive Steve Bellone.  “By checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and making sure they are in working order, you will be taking steps to ensure that you and your family are safe.  In addition, please take the opportunity to enroll or update your Smart911 safety profile. Smart911 is a free service which was implemented by Suffolk County earlier this year and enables you to provide pertinent information that you may want first responders to have when responding to an emergency at your home.”

 Turn all clocks back one hour

At 2:00 am on Sunday, November 2, be sure to turn back all clocks in your home and vehicles.  Smartphones with automatic date and time settings will make the change for users, but all analog clocks and watches will need to be changed manually.  

Test and replace your smoke detector batteries and ensure your carbon monoxide detectors are in working order

According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms and more than one-third (37%) of home fire deaths result from fire in which no smoke alarms are present.  The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms. 

Update your Smart911 Safety Profile

If you have already signed up for Smart911 be sure to log in to update or confirm the information in your Safety Profile.  Smart 911allows residents to create a Safety Profile for their household of any information they want 9-1-1 and first responders to have in case of an emergency.  Once signed up, each account must be confirmed every 6 months to ensure the information is accurate and up to date.  Visit www.smart911.com to sign up or to update your account.