Lee County Public Safety along with the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept. are encouraging everyone to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend when they change the time on their clocks. Daylight Savings time ends Sunday, Nov. 7 requiring clocks to be set back one hour tonight before you go to bed.

The alarms have proven to reduce a person’s chance of dying in a fire or gas-filled home by getting people to act in the moments before they become seriously ill or injured. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, county public safety officials said.

Southwest Florida’s warm climate reduces the life of batteries necessitating a semi-annual change unlike some northern climates which can more safely assume a battery will maintain its charge for 12 months. Alarms that are hard wired should also get fresh batteries, in case of a power outage, officials said.

Fire Departments also use the time change times each year to remind people to change their batteries in their smoke alarms.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety commission also recommends placement of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on all levels of a home and especially near sleeping areas. Both function effectively on ceilings.