Spring Ahead: Daylight Savings Time This Sunday

It's time to spring ahead.

Don't forget to set your clock ahead one hour this weekend. Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012.

As part of the American Public Health Association's Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign, the McHenry County Health Department is reminding residents to create or check their preparedness kits to make sure their emergency stockpiles are not missing any items or that food has not expired.

The campaign is meant to remind residents to check their emergency supplies before a disaster occurs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a checklist of items to include in your emergency preparedness kit available on its website.

Here are some more reasons and tips the McHenry County Health Department gives for creating the kit: 

Emergencies such as floods, fires and hazardous weather can occur at any time of the year. After a disaster, local officials and relief workers cannot reach everyone immediately — it may take hours or even days — so your stockpile should have at least a three-day supply of food, water and other necessities. Basic services such as water and electricity also may be interrupted. Other items to set aside include important family documents, cash/traveler’s checks, prescriptions and pet supplies.

The McHenry County Health Department also is reminding residents to make sure the batteries in their smoke alarms are working. 

Source: McHenry County Health Department