Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 10
You might not be awake at 2 a.m. on Saturday evening when it happens, but when you wake up on Sunday you will be missing an hour. Our time-driven routines link to important safety and health considerations so you will need to do more than just adjust your clocks. Several days after time changes, there are increases in health and safety risks due to disturbances to circadian rhythms and sleep.
Research shows that in the transition week of Daylight Saving Time, motor vehicle fatalities across the country increase 6 percent. While the average increase is startling enough, the fatal accidents are even more pronounced in the morning and in locations further west within a time zone. Based on national historic data we can expect to see an uptick of 8 percent in strokes in the first two days, and an 11 percent increase in depressive symptoms after the time change.
With health and safety in mind, let’s be proactive.
• Avoid lit device screens and keep the lights dim in your first hour of waking in the morning.
• Review safety practices around your home: check fire extinguishers, replace batteries in your various monitoring systems, replace filters and clean the dryer vent.
• Clean your windshield too. The different position of the sun may impact your work commute.
Most importantly, when you head out on Monday, be prepared to navigate an environment where unexpected challenges to your routines are springing up everywhere.
