Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service wants residents to remember to also test their smoke alarms when they turn the clocks back one hour on Sunday morning.

At 2 a.m. on November 3, the clocks will "fall back" one hour as Daylight Saving Time ends.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) recommends that residents use this change in time as a reminder to test and replace their smoke alarms' batteries.

"According to recent statistics, people are four times more likely to die in a fire if they don’t have working smoke alarms. The only way to ensure an alarm is working it to test it," says WFPS.

WFPS recently battled five structure fire in nearly four hours on October 31 and November 1.

Households without working smoke alarms are encouraged to sign up for the S.A.F.E. (Smoke Alarm for Every) Family Program, which provides and installs free alarms in owner-occupied homes. 

WFPS says, "In addition to your changing clocks and your testing smoke alarms, the time change is a good reminder for businesses and organizations to check their Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), as AED batteries and contact pads have a shelf life.

"AEDs require regular checks and maintenance, as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions."