Time To Spring Forward

Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

It is that time of year when the majority of the Nation sets their clocks up one hour to spring forward into Daylight Savings Time. Daylight Savings Time allows more daylight hours to work and play outdoors, which are especially important during warm weather months. In modern times, springing forward and falling back in time involves gaining or losing an hour on the clock twice a year, however throughout history the time change has included half adjustments of 30 minutes and double adjustments of 2 hours. During World War II, the length of time for the extended day was observed much longer than other years and was referred to as War Time. In the United States, a few locations remain on Standard Time year round. Hawaii and the majority of Arizona, as well as a small region of Alaska, do not observe Daylight Savings Time. For those who live in an area that is included in a Daylight Savings Time zone, clocks should be moved ahead one hour at 2am Sunday March 10, 2013 and will remain in Daylight Savings Time until 2am on Sunday, November 3, 2013 when clocks will be moved back one hour to Standard Time. Interestingly, a recent study related the first days following the move into Daylight Savings Time with a significant increase in heart attacks, which is attributed to the change in sleep patterns. There is also a correlation to increased traffic and work place incidents as people try to adjust to the change in time. One positive affect that Daylight Savings Time offers is the opportunity to boost the economy during the extra hour of daylight, as people shop and golf for a larger portion of the day.

Source: K. Depew, News Director