ATLANTA (WAOK)-Get ready to enjoy an extra hour of sleep this weekend, as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. Make sure you turn your clock BACK one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia campaign is asking residents to do an emergency preparedness check.
·         Test your smoke alarms to make sure they’re working, and replace the batteries if they’re more than a year old.

·         Take a look at your Ready kit

.         Check expiration dates on your food, water and medications. Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies.

.         Throw out any canned good that is swollen, dented or corroded.

.         Check your equipment. Is your battery-powered radio working? When was the last time you replaced the batteries in your flashlight and your NOAA weather radio?  Follow the same rule of thumb as you do for your smoke alarm – replace the batteries at least once a year.

Is someone in the family on medication now that they weren’t taking a year ago? Have you added a family member or a pet? Take these and other lifestyle changes into account, and update your kit as needed.

·         Once you’ve taken a few minutes to refresh your Ready kit, make sure you take a quick look at your family emergency plan too. Update medical information, phone numbers and any other details that may have changed during the past year. Then make sure your family knows where you will go and how you will get in touch with another in case of an emergency.

As the days get shorter, it’s a sign that winter is just around the corner. With the change of seasons comes a whole new set of potential hazards. Just one hour of planning can help to assure that your family is prepared for the critical 72 hours following a disaster, so find the time this weekend to conduct some of these simple, but crucial steps.

For more information, visit www.ready.ga.gov<http://www.ready.ga.gov>.