An average of three children a day — approximately 1,100 children under the age of 15 — die each year in house fires in the United States.

Ninety percent of fire deaths involving children occur in homes without smoke detectors. Sadly, many of these tragic deaths could be avoided with working smoke detectors.

Although 92 percent of American homes have smoke detectors, nearly one-third don't work because of worn or missing batteries. With early warning that working smoke detectors can provide, residents stand a much greater chance of escaping to safety. In fact, working smoke detectors cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half.

So on Oct. 31, when you turn back your clocks, take an extra minute to install fresh batteries in your smoke detectors, too. Then push the test button on the detector to make sure that the device is working.

We recommend that families also plan two escape routes from their home and practice them regularly. It's also a good idea to pre-assemble a fire safety kit, including working flashlights, fresh batteries, important phone numbers and a supply of cash.