It’s like clockwork.

Every six months, there are two things on the daylight-saving time “to-do” list, clocks and batteries.

The Forsyth County Fire Department, along with Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, are urging residents to change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they change clocks back to standard time at 2 a.m. Sunday.

“The time change is a great opportunity for people to remind themselves to change those batteries,” said Forsyth County Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers.

While batteries might not be fully exhausted after six months, it’s not worth the risk, he said.

“The value in life safety greatly outweighs the few dollars that would be spent to replace those 9-volt batteries,” Shivers said. “A smoke detector does you absolutely no good if it doesn’t have power to work.”

Through the state’s initiative, “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery,” Hudgens warns changing batteries and cleaning dust from the detectors are crucial in preventing unnecessary deaths.

“Last year in Georgia there were 72 fatal house fires, and 67 of them didn’t have working smoke alarms,” Hudgens said. “If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it’s in working order … having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.”