Public safety officials are reminding residents as they change their clocks back an hour this weekend to also change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Daylight saving time ends Sunday morning.

"Replacing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors takes just a few minutes and could prove to be life-saving," said Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny Bowman.

The fire department recommends changing the batteries every six months. In addition, detectors should be tested monthly and units should be replaced every eight to 10 years.

The department also recommends that smoke detectors be installed on every level of a home and be kept clean and free of dust.

Battery-powered smoke detectors are provided for free by the department to senior citizens and residents in need.

For more information, call Andrea Noble, the department’s public safety educator, at (770) 205-5699.