Time to Fall Back - Adios Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night, as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end on Sunday Nov. 4 at 2AM.  You gain an hour, so you get an extra hour of shuteye, and who can't use that in our sleep deprived society? The bad news is that with the end of Daylight Savings Time comes increased driving risks  because of the darkness. Keep on your toes behind the wheel! 

Additionally we recommend that you do these things every 6 months when you reset your clocks:

• Check and replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Replace any smoke alarms older than ten years. Replace any CO alarms older than five years.
   
• Prepare a disaster supply kit for your house (water, food, flashlights, batteries, blankets, pet food). Our  South Denver neighborhood has  more than its share of power outages during winter months, and it is good to be prepared. Once you've created your home disaster kit, use the semi-annual time change to check its contents (including testing/replacing flashlight batteries).
   
• Winter is coming, making it a great time to put together your "winter car-emergency kit."  You don't want to be hungry, cold and scrounging  around your car's floorboards looking for an old Taco Bell salsa packet to suck on if you get stuck in a blizzard, do you? We recommend having blankets, extra clothes, socks and gloves, flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a couple Bic lighters or waterproof matches, a couple of fat candles, instant soup, tea bags, granola bars, an empty can to melt snow in, a shovel, and a few airline sized bottles of vodka (just kidding - or not)  will probably do it. If you want to put water in your kit leave room in the bottle, because the water will freeze and expand. Maybe duct tape, because it always comes in handy. A roll of toilet paper will serve many purposes other than the obvious one. And maybe something to pass the time, like a magazine to read. You will probably never use any of it,  but it never hurts to  prepared for Colorado's mercurial weather. 
• Go over your car or take it to the shop and have everything checked over. Antifreeze, wipers, tires, belts and batteries should all get a good going over.
   
• Check home and outbuilding storage areas for hazardous materials. Discard (properly, please) any which are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Move any which are within reach of kids or pets.