Twice a year, a crazy thing happens across the country—we adjust the clocks by one hour. In the spring of the year the clocks “spring ahead” one hour and then in the fall of the year, the clocks “fall back” one hour. For more than a hundred years, the practice of daylight saving time (“DST”) has existed in places around the world. While it does not seem all that crazy in theory, just losing and then later regaining one hour, it is actually quite a big deal. Since its inception, the concept has been met with controversy. Even today, the reasoning for why we will continue with DST is far from clear cut. Some say it is to help farmers; others say it promotes energy savings, while still others claim it for safety reasons.
The one truth of the matter, regardless of the real reason why DST still exists in most of the country, is that the concept is fraught with many unintended consequences. Some of these consequences are downright dangerous. Since DST does not appear to be disappearing anytime soon, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers associated with the spring time change so that you can take extra precautions we lose one hour of sleep on Sunday, March 10th.
- Increase in traffic accidents. Studies have found that the chance of being involved in a fatal car accident increases the Monday following the time change. Losing just one hour can cause a significant disruption to driver’s sleep cycles which can lead to drowsy drivers who are less alert behind the wheel.
- Increase in workplace injuries. For individuals employed in construction and other more physical occupations, being drowsy on the job can lead to serious and sometimes deadly mistakes. Hence is it not surprising that researchers have found that DST can cause an uptick in workplace accidents.
- Increase in heart attacks. According to one Finnish study, the chances of a person having a heart attack or stroke increase by 8 percent on the Monday and Tuesday that follow the Sunday leap. Researchers believe this is in part because losing sleep creates an almost jet lag type effect on the body which can exacerbate conditions in persons who have heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc.
The best way to prepare for the hour of lost sleep is to allow your body to adjust slowly to the change ahead of time. A few weeks before DST head to bed 15 minutes earlier than your usual bedtime. Then the week before increase that to 30 minutes earlier, and finally in the day or two before DST go to bed 45 min earlier. This way, when the big day arrives, your body will be better equipped to handle the change. The worst thing a person can do is to go into the DST down on sleep. Even if you cannot go to bed earlier than usual in the weeks before the start of DST, at the very least make sure that you are not sleep deprived before losing the hour. Aim to get your usual 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Kansas or Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation under current state law. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can assist you, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. Our team of seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys will make sure that you receive fair and just compensation. Trust the Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help you, just as they have helped countless injury victims around the area. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we pride ourselves at providing injury victims with exceptional legal services.