It may seem like church starts a little earlier this week to many in Richmond County because the time has come to spring forward and lose an hour of sleep at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

Safety professionals in the county encourage residents to take advantage of the transition to not only change their clocks, but to also reevaluate some lifestyle choices related to emergency preparedness.

“This is the time of year to check your smoke detectors and make sure they’re working properly,” said Richmond County Emergency Management Director Frank McKay. “It’s a proven fact these things save lives.”

In February, the Richmond County Health Department released the details of a community assessment survey that showed less than half of the Richmond County homes surveyed had a working smoke detector. It also showed very few Richmond County residents have enough provisions on hand to ride out an emergency situation for 72 hours.

“If you’ve had a smoke detector for a long period of time, you may even want to look at replacing the unit,” McKay said.

In a November article in the Daily Journal, Rockingham Fire Department Captain Vic McCaskill explained smoke detectors should be examined each month. The National Fire Protection Association suggests replacing them each 10 years.

“The key thing is that smoke detectors collect dust,” McCaskill explained. “So when you clean the smoke detector, blow them out.”

McKay said the typical smoke detector can be purchased for less than $10, but the importance of making sure the batteries in it still work is priceless.

Carbon monoxide detectors have also become more important to have in newer homes, McCaskill said. New homes are typically built to be more energy-efficient and provide for less of an exchange of air in and out.

Gas stoves and heaters are often the culprits of carbon monoxide poisoning, but homes with attached garages can take in carbon monoxide from auto exhaust if a vehicle is left running in the garage.

Depending on how elaborate the device is, carbon monoxide detectors can be considerably more expensive than a smoke detector.

According to Rockingham Hardware, a unit can be obtained for about $30 with batteries included.

Having a 72-hour survival kit can be more expensive, but of equal importance should the unexpected take place, McKay explained.

According to a pamphlet composed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the American Red Cross, the kits should include a three-day supply of drinking water, about a gallon a day for each person in the household, one change of clothes and footwear per person and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.

In addition, a first aid kit, emergency tools like a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, sanitation supplies and an extra set of glasses should be included. Special items may be required for the young or elderly, and one should keep an extra set of car keys on hand with cash or traveler’s checks.

Daylight saving time comes twice a year, on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November, to allow people to take advantage of the longer and later daylight hours and use less energy in their homes.

According to the Web site about.com, it was first put in place in the United States during World War I as a way to conserve energy for war production between April and October, then all went back to normal.

This policy was revived during World War II, and individual states had the option of using or not using it between the wars.

In wasn’t until 1966 when the U.S. Congress moved to make the practice permanent with the Uniform Time Act, standardizing the length of daylight saving time.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.