COLUMBUS, Ohio – When you turn your clocks forward one hour this weekend – and you’ll remember, right? – Ohio authorities hope you’ll remember to do a couple of other things as well.
Daylight Saving Time takes effect at 2:00 a.m. Sunday.
Fire officials suggest this weekend is a good time to check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and the Ohio Secretary of State’s office hopes voters will update their registration information during this election year.
“It is important to have a smoke alarm. However, it must be working in order to save lives. Changing the battery and clearing dust from detectors are easy ways to add layers of protection to a home,” says Columbus Division of Fire Chief Greg Paxton.
Paxton says studies have shown that smoke alarms can reduce the chance of dying in a fire by 50 percent.
For the best protection, fire officials recommend installing smoke alarms on every level of the home including the basement, outside each sleeping area and in every bedroom.
Secretary of State Jon Husted suggests checking voter registration information online and change addresses if necessary.
Voters with up-to-date registrations will be able to cast regular ballots on Election Day instead of provisional ballots. Husted says the most common reason for voters being required to vote provisionally is because they have moved and not updated their address.
Ohio voters planning to go to the polls to vote in the May 6 primary should have their voting information updated no later than April 7, Husted said.