March 9, 2017
Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12th at 2 a.m., where our clocks jump forward an hour.
The biannual act of advancing or restoring time means different things to different people.
For some, its a sign of spring’s approach and the summer to come. For others, a bane to our body clocks as we readjust to a loss of 60 minutes of sleep and adjusted daylight hours. For those who have young children: true torture. Trying to get sleep deprived kids up for school Monday, March 13th, is a true test of the limits of human patience.
Whether we want to thank him or not, the concept of maximizing daylight is traced to the original Philly (born in Boston, but wanted to come here cause we’re Philly) hometown hero Ben Franklin. The term and the idea of moving clocks forward did not come from him however.
Franklin is known for other things as well, two of which are his proverbs and aphorisms. Many of his sayings filled the pages of Poor Richard’s Almanac.
One of Franklin’s expressions, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”, intersects with one of his concepts on time.
This cross-pollination of Franklin thoughts, preparedness and time, are of interest to the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and the Philadelphia Fire Department (after all, Franklin did organize the nation’s first firefighting service here in Philly).
You hear reminders in the spring and fall to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when you set your clocks forward or back. We want you to also check your emergency plan and supplies at least twice a year as well.
So, keeping in line with the Ben Franklin theme, take action to become emergency prepared, because “Well done is better than well said”.
Simple Steps to become Emergency Prepared
- Create a Family Emergency Plan that includes everyone: those with access and functional needs and your pets too.
- Make a Go-Bag and a Shelter-in-Place kit.
- Know the Fire Safety Rules and develop a Fire Escape Plan with help from the Philadelphia Fire Department.
- Test your smoke alarm. Nationally, three of five fire deaths do not have a working smoke detector in the home. Don’t have one? The Philadelphia Fire Department has one for free. Contact Philly 3-1-1.
- Keep in communication.
- Sign up for the City’s mass communication system, ReadyPhiladelphia. Its free and bring you information direct from the National Weather Service, SEPTA, and City agencies such as OEM, Philadelphia Police, Philadelphia Fire, Philadelphia Prisons, and Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex.
- Follow City social media accounts for information; @PhiladelphiaGov, @PhilaOEM, @Philly311, @PhilaStreets, @PhillyPolice, and @PhillyFireDept.