With Daylight Savings Time now upon us, I hope you remembered to test your smoke alarms and replace their batteries. This simple task can save you and your family's lives. The recent tragedy in the Bronx apartment building clearly demonstrates how important it is to have working smoke alarms and to know proper procedures during a fire. The facts are very clear: When a fire strikes you may have less than a minute to get out of the building safely. Having working smoke alarms in your home can double your chances of survival if a fire occurs. fifty percent of the fire deaths that occur each year in the U.S. take place in the percent of homes without fire alarms. Stated another way: You're twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven't got a smoke alarm. I urge you all to perform this simple life saving test: check your smoke alarms regularly. Listed below are also some very useful tips:

• Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.

• Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low. Hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall.

• Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can't warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected.

• Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound.

• Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's instructions, can keep them working properly.

• Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one.

• Consider installing smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries.

• Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. Some studies have shown that some children may not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs.

• If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent relative to having neither - a savings of thousands of lives a year.

You can also contact your local fire department for more information on smoke alarms and their placement in your home. For additional information on fire safety you can visit the US Fire Administration website at www.USFA.dhs.gov. For specific information on Smoke Alarms go to: www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pyfff/smkalarm.html.