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Documenting Incidents When the Time Changes

Posted: Dec. 17, 2020

NFIRSGram
1 min read
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This NFIRSGram explains how to document times for incidents that occur during a change to, or a change from, daylight saving time.

When the time changes from daylight saving time to standard time, and vice versa, a common question asked is, “How do I document times for incidents that occur during the time change?”

For instance, your department’s alarm time is 00:57:45, and you arrive on scene at 01:05:22. You are on the scene of the incident for approximately 56 minutes, and your last unit clears the scene at 02:01:11.

Fall

If you document the clear time as 01:01:11 after setting the time back an hour, you will receive a critical error message that the clear time is prior to the arrival time.

Spring

If you document the clear time as 03:01:11 after setting the time forward an hour, you indicate that you were on the scene an hour longer than you were.

The best course of action is to document any incident that occurs during the time change as if the time change did not occur.

Important points

  • Time change only affects a small percentage of the incidents nationwide.
  • Report the times as if the time did not change.
  • Include in Remarks the actual clock times and that the incident occurred during the time change.
  • Apply this rule if your department responds to incidents in another time zone.
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For more information about NFIRS, please contact the NFIRS Support Center: Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET, at 888-382-3827 or by email at fema-nfirshelp@fema.dhs.gov.