Public service announcement: check your detectors!

I thought about telling you how delighted I am that the clock in my bathroom will finally be the right time — again — after this weekend. Clock setting and resetting is almost as annoying as the actual shift in time; it seems like only yesterday we were “this close” to eliminating daylight saving nonsense when the U.S.

took a healthy run at eliminating it in 2022, but ultimately failed. I’d like to tip my hat to Saskatchewan for digging in its heels way back and refusing to play. And are you really a Canadian if you didn’t grow up hearing that your favourite show would be starting at 9 p.



m., 9:30 in Newfoundland? We have the power, it’s just that some of us can’t seem to use it. Instead of getting cranky about owning a cat who will not respect what any clock tells her, I’ll instead use this space to remind everyone to replace the batteries in their smoke detectors.

When the boys were in preschool, the fire department used to send a couple of firefighters to teach the little ones about fire safety. One explained to me that getting to the kids early was a great way to get information back to their homes. Small kids are fascinated by firefighters and pay attention, and nobody talks more incessantly than a small child obsessed with something.

Christopher came home demanding to know what our evacuation plan was. He wanted to know where our mesh safety ladders were kept. He insisted I test each smoke detector and informed me the carbon monoxide detector was not in the proper spot.

He wanted to try the fire extinguisher by the side door to make sure it still worked; I assured him it did, and I moved the carbon monoxide detector. That classroom visit was a success, with a herd of four-year-olds doing a task assigned by one of their heroes. Christer actually drew up a plan — how I wish I’d kept it.

He put little arrows depicting escape routes, just like he’d been told. I explained the window in his room opened onto a small roof over the front step. He could safely exit without a ladder.

He asked if he would be allowed to break the window if there were a fire. I told him he could. His brother’s window had an awning beneath it — safe exit.

I didn’t mention that if I had to get out, I would have a delightful two-storey drop and land on the air-conditioning unit. Three years later, Ari’s school did the same thing. Once again, I was quizzed on our preparedness.

Ari wanted to practice breaking his window, just to be sure he could do it. I drew the line at this level of preparedness. He wanted to practice jumping on the awning.

Just to be sure. I figured between the two of them, Diagram Boy and Action Boy, we would be safe. I’ve been replacing smoke detectors over the past year — they have an expiry date but like most things you rarely think about, the time can fly by.

When you’re changing batteries, check the dates on the actual device. There are many options for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on the market now, and at every price point. Some have a pause option for when whatever you’re cooking at 450 degrees sets it off — far safer than removing the battery or desperately flapping your slipper to shut it up.

Make sure you’re covered on every level, including the basement. If you’re a landlord, please make sure your tenants are protected. Consider this column your preschooler coming home and demanding to know what you’d do in the event of a fire.

Please be safe..