CUSTER COUNTY–Though we may lose an hour of sleep, sunsets will be later with the annual “spring forward” time change taking place this weekend. The beginning of Daylight Saving Time will be on Sunday, March 13, 2022. The change will take place at 2 a.m. on Sunday, so it is recommended to turn your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.
According to timeanddate.com, sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on Sunday than the day before. This event is also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.
Daylight Saving Time History in United States
United States first observed Daylight Saving Time in 1918.
United States has observed DST for 105 years between 1918 and 2022
Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the USA starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The current schedule was introduced in 2007 and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
According to section 110 of the act, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the use of DST. The law does not affect the rights of the states and territories that choose not to observe DST.
Confusing DST Rules
Historically, there were no uniform rules for DST from 1945 to 1966. This caused widespread confusion, especially in transport and broadcasting. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 aligned the switch dates across the USA for the first time.
Following the 1973 oil embargo, the US Congress extended the DST period to 10 months in 1974 and 8 months in 1975, in an effort to save energy.
After the energy crisis was over in 1976, the DST schedule in the US was revised several times. From 1987 to 2006, the country observed DST for about 7 months each year.
The American Red Cross reminds everyone it is also a good time to TEST the batteries in their smoke alarms as they TURN their clocks ahead one hour.
It’s also a good time to take these lifesaving steps to prepare for home fires, the nation’s most frequent disaster:
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. Place them inside and outside bedrooms, and sleeping areas.
Test smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it. Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
Practice your home fire escape plan in two minutes or less. Include at least two ways to get out from every room. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet. Practice your plan until everyone can escape in two minutes or less — the amount of time that fire experts say you have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.
