Seize the Daylight!

Springing Forward and Preparing for the Future 

By Kelly Norton, Volunteer Contributor

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 am. At that time, we'll lose the hour between 2:00 am and 3:00 am until we gain it back in the fall. 

The concept of Daylight Saving Time was introduced with the thought to use daylight more effectively to allow for longer days in the summer - moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. This practice in the United States has been through many changes since its adaptation during World War I. Most recently, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time in the US so that it:

• starts at 2:00 am on the second Sunday of March and
• ends at 2:00 am on the first Sunday of November

Some technology auto-sets itself to adapt to the time change, but it's still a good idea to check all of your clocks on Sunday.

In the spirit of preparedness, Daylight Saving Time is also a great time to remember to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they're working properly. Change the batteries in these devices and test them.

This act of preparedness greatly increases your chance of survival if there's a fire in your home. According to the US Fire Administration, having a working smoke alarm reduces one's chances of dying in a fire by nearly half. You can check out more facts and preparedness tips about smoke alarms here. 

So, remember to "spring ahead" this weekend: 

• Change your clocks and the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Share this information with your friends
• Even consider going to bed an hour earlier on Saturday night so you don't lose out on any sleep

Hopefully Mother Nature will get the hint, too, and replace the snow with beautiful cherry blossoms!