Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery

As Saint John residents prepare to turn their clocks back an hour this Sunday, November 2, 2025, for the end of daylight saving time, the City of Saint John Fire Department is highlighting a simple task that can save lives: changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

A Simple Habit That Saves Lives

According to a safety reminder issued by the city, most fatal fires occur at night while families are asleep. A functioning alarm provides the critical early warning needed to escape safely. Linking a battery change to the semi-annual clock change is an easy way to ensure your detectors are always ready to protect you and your loved ones.

Your Quick Safety Checklist

The fire department recommends you follow these simple steps to keep your home safe:

• Test Alarms Monthly: Press the test button on your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month to confirm they are operational.
• Install Alarms Correctly: You should have smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide alarms should also be on every level, particularly near fuel-burning appliances.
• Practice Your Escape Plan: Ensure everyone in your household knows two ways out of every room. Practice your home fire drill together regularly.
• Know What to Do: If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, evacuate the building immediately to get fresh air. Call for help and do not re-enter until emergency services have declared it safe.
• Keep a Fire Extinguisher Ready: A fire extinguisher in the kitchen is your best first defense against common cooking fires.

For more home safety resources, you can visit the Saint John Fire Department website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it so important to change alarm batteries with the time change?

Pairing the battery change with turning your clocks back is an easy-to-remember habit. Since most fire-related deaths happen at night, a working alarm is your most effective tool for early detection when you are asleep. A dead battery makes an alarm useless.

Where should I install my smoke alarms?

For maximum protection, install smoke alarms in every bedroom, in the hallways outside sleeping areas, and on each level of your home, including the basement.

What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?

You must act immediately. Get everyone out of the house and into fresh air. Then, call 911 from outside or a neighbor’s home. Do not go back inside until emergency personnel have given you the all-clear.