Don't forget to spring forward

SIKESTON -- Daylight-savings time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday and it also marks the 26th anniversary of the "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" program, sponsored by Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The program reminds residents to change and test the batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The message is simple and the habit can become life saving.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, testing those alarms and reminding others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic death and injuries. Additionally, IAFC recommends that smoke alarms in homes should be replaced every 10 years and having both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are best to alert people to all types of home fires.