Daylight Savings time is far more complex than just moving your clocks an hour ahead. When your body settles into a particular sleep schedule, even a 60-minute change can alter your state of mind, possibly putting your safety at risk.
This year, Daylight Savings begins on Sunday, March 11th. Before adjusting your clocks over the weekend, organizations such as the National Safety Council encourage you to take additional safety precautions in your daily life and around your home to help you spring forward safely into the new season.
SLEEP TRICKS TO KEEP YOU ALERT
Time changes can have a tremendous effect on your internal sleep schedule, leading to an increase in accidents and injuries due to fatigue and distraction. Simple tricks such as adjusting your sleep schedule gradually days before the change, or scheduling short afternoon naps, can be extremely effective in avoiding negative impacts of sleep changes. For more tips on keeping your body in tune with Daylight Savings, WebMD experts have some excellent suggestions to start you off on the right foot.
FIRE SAFETY IN THE HOME
According to the National Fire Protection Association, at least three out of five fire fatalities are caused by missing or broken smoke alarms in the home. Smoke alarms should be located in every room and in proper working condition.The batteries on these devices should be replaced and tested every year, which can be easy for homeowners to forget. Scheduling smoke alarm tests while changing the clocks is a great way to gain peace of mind that your home is fire safe heading into the spring season.
REDUCE CARBON MONOXIDE RISKS
Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless gas that can come from any appliance that burns fuel. Carbon monoxide detectors should follow the same maintenance schedule as smoke alarms, and placed in central locations on every floor of the home. After a long volatile winter, spring is also the perfect time to clean out any vents that could cause carbon monoxide leaks due to build-up or loose debris from outdoors.
REMEMBER SAFETY AT WORK
Studies show workplace injuries increase in both quantity and severity on the Monday following the spring Daylight Savings change. When returning to work from the weekend, make sure you are taking all precautions necessary, and wearing proper safety equipment, to perform your job safely at work. Fatigue can cause a lapse in judgment and reaction time, so try not to take too many risks if feeling drowsy or foggy.
PREVENTING WINDOW INJURIES
After a harsh winter with varying temperatures, are you confident in the safety of your windows? Checking to make sure your windows cannot be opened easily by young children and are accessorized with cordless blinds are two of the most important factors in keeping your family safe from serious window injuries. For more on window safety, the National Safety Council offers additional information on the dangers of windows and steps to preventing accidents in your home.
HOME EMERGENCY PLAN
Does your family have an emergency plan? If not, it’s a great time to make one. If you do, it’s an even better time to review any changes that may have occurred within the last year. The National Safety Council is an important advocate for home emergency plans to help families react in cases of natural disasters or catastrophic events. To help you get started, or to ensure you’ve covered all the necessities, FEMA has a comprehensive checklist of what to include in an emergency kit and how to put your plan into action.
CHECKING EXPIRATION DATES
The cleaning urge hits a lot of people once the weather gets warm. But before you start disinfecting, check the expiration dates on your cleaning supplies to make sure they are safe to use. Expiration dates on medications are also important to check yearly, making sure you properly dispose of any medications you are no longer using. You can order supplies from the National Safety Council website if you are unsure as to how to safely dispose of these substances in your area.
As long time advocates of home and workplace safety, our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Siler & Ingber are passionate about fighting for individuals who have been wrongfully injured. Call us at 1-877-529-4343 for a free consultation to see how we can help you with your personal injury claim.