Remember to check your emergency supplies when you set your clocks March 8

It’s time to spring forward this Sunday, March 8!

In addition to more light at the end of the day, (yea!) daylight saving time is the perfect reminder to check your preparedness kit to make sure your emergency stockpile isn’t missing any items and that the food hasn’t expired. APHA’s Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign is back to remind people to refresh their emergency supplies before a disease outbreak or disaster occurs. If you haven’t created a stockpile (PDF) yet, why wait any longer?


Be sure that you have at least a three-day supply of bottled water, nonperishable foods and essential medications set aside for each member of your family. And as always, don’t forget to check the batteries in your smoke alarms. This is also a perfect time to re-familiarize yourself with your community’s emergency preparedness plan, including evacuation routes, emergency shelters and the location of food banks.

This season, APHA kicks off its Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign with the release of free materials aimed at helping Americans become better prepared. Two new fact sheets provide tips on how to keep pets safe in an emergency (PDF) and how to create and maintain a stockpile on a budget (PDF). Print a copy to keep for yourself and share one with a friend or family member.