Wisconsin Emergency Management Offers Safety Checks to Perform For Daylight Saving Time This Weekend

Saturday, October 31st, 2026 -- 10:00 AM

It is almost time to turn back the clocks.

While gaining an hour of sleep may be welcome news for some, the time change is a reminder to keep some safety checks and emergency planning in mind. “Turning back the clocks is easy, but being prepared takes a little bit of planning,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “Wisconsinites should take advantage of that extra hour to take a few extra steps to protect their families and loved ones.”

Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 a.m., clocks will fall back an hour to standard time. Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms could mean the difference between life and death. They help alert you to danger whether it is smoke from a fire or harmful invisible gas leaks from furnaces and other appliances.

Take time to:

• Test all alarms in your home.
• Replace batteries in these alarms at least once a year.
• Check the manufacture date on your alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced around every five to seven years. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

As heating systems kick into full gear, it is important to take precautions to prevent home fires. Have furnaces and chimneys professionally inspected. If you use a space heater, make sure they are at least three feet away from anything that is flammable.

If your furnace or HVAC was impacted by flooding this summer, make sure it is inspected as there could be risks with damaged equipment or mold growth within your systems. If you have an emergency kit at home, this weekend is also a great time to check for expired products or items that may have been borrowed for other purposes and need to be replenished.

It is also a good time to review and update emergency plans with children, older adults and anyone else that may be a part of your household.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.