SPRINGFIELD, Mo-- As you turn your clocks back this weekend, it's also a good time to check your smoke alarms.
The message is simple and the habit can be lifesaving, change your clock, change your battery.
Springfield firefighters want to remind people they give out smoke alarms and batteries for free, so there's no reason why a home in Springfield should be without.
88 year old Mary Letterman lives by herself in Springfield. She's had the same smoke alarms for about a decade.
Seniors that are older than 75, like Letterman, are three times more likely to die in house fires.
She says having new alarms gives her peace of mind.
"If something goes wrong, at least I can get out," said Letterman.
Springfield firefighters say with the free program, everyone should be protected.
"Most fire related fatalities occur in homes that do not have working smoke alarms," said Phil Noah, Springfield Fire Marshal.
Data shows in the United States, every three hours someone dies in a house fire, more than 60 percent of those fires happen in homes without a working smoke alarm.
So far, the Springfield Fire Department has given more than 1,400 smoke alarms to people like Letterman.
It only took about five minutes, but Letterman says she will always be grateful.
"I'm real thankful they did that. You will never known how much I appreciate that," said Letterman.
