MARSHALL — Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday – and in addition to setting the clocks back an hour, it might be a good time to test your smoke alarm, the American Red Cross said.

This week, the Red Cross encouraged Minnesotans to check their smoke alarms, and change the batteries if needed.

“Every second counts when there’s a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place,” said Melanie Tschida, executive director for the American Red Cross serving southern Minnesota. “When daylight saving time ends this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”

Marshall Fire Chief Quentin Brunsvold said it’s a good rule of thumb to check smoke alarms on a regular basis, and change their batteries if needed. New smoke alarm batteries should be put in about every six months, so it can be convenient to check them when changing the clocks in spring and fall, he said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half.

Brunsvold said one tip for keeping track of when smoke alarm batteries should be replaced is to write down the date they were last changed. He said he uses a permanent marker to write the date on the side of the new smoke alarm battery when he changes one.

It’s also important to remember to have fresh batteries even in smoke alarms that are wired, Brunsvold said. Many people have a misconception that hard-wired alarms don’t need batteries, he said. However, batteries serve as backup power for the alarm, in case of a power outage.

“It’s always good to make sure they have a battery in there,” Brunsvold said.

“The other thing is to check the ‘born on’ date” for smoke alarms, Brunsvold said. Smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older should be replaced. “If there’s no date on the back (of the alarm), it’s too old.”

The Red Cross said components like sensors inside smoke alarms can become less sensitive over time. That’s why the alarms need to be replaced after about 10 years.

In a news release, the Red Cross also encouraged Minnesotans to practice an escape plan, in case of a fire in their home. They said residents should make sure everyone in their household can get out in less than two minutes. Households should plan at least two ways to get out of every room, and choose a meeting spot a safe distance away from the house. A neighbor’s home or another nearby landmark can be good places to meet, the Red Cross said.

More information on fire safety is available online at SoundTheAlarm.org/MNDAKS, the Red Cross said. The website also has more information on the Red Cross’s Minnesota-Dakotas Home Fire Campaign. The campaign helps provide and install smoke alarms for people in the region.