David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Health Canada Reminds Canadians to Check Medical Device Clocks after the Switch to Daylight Savings Time
Information Update 2010-37
March 12, 2010
OTTAWA - Health Canada would like to remind the thousands of Canadians who rely on medical devices or systems with internal clocks to check these devices to ensure they switch from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 2:00 a.m.
The start and end dates of Daylight Saving Time were changed in 2007. Medical equipment manufactured prior to 2007 may not function optimally if the equipment has not been updated by manufacturers to compensate for the new dates.
To date, Health Canada has not received any reports of device malfunctions because of the revised time change that began in 2007. However, examples of medical devices that could be affected by the change include (but are not limited to): implanted pacemakers/defibrillators with sleep modes that can only be adjusted by physicians; Holter monitors, used to continuously record heartbeat; and glucose monitors that store data on glucose levels.
If a medical device displays the incorrect time after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 14, 2010, users should contact the manufacturer to bring the problem to their attention and consult a health care professional.
Consumers requiring more information about this Information Update can contact Health Canada's public enquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
Information Update 2010-37
March 12, 2010
OTTAWA - Health Canada would like to remind the thousands of Canadians who rely on medical devices or systems with internal clocks to check these devices to ensure they switch from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 2:00 a.m.
The start and end dates of Daylight Saving Time were changed in 2007. Medical equipment manufactured prior to 2007 may not function optimally if the equipment has not been updated by manufacturers to compensate for the new dates.
To date, Health Canada has not received any reports of device malfunctions because of the revised time change that began in 2007. However, examples of medical devices that could be affected by the change include (but are not limited to): implanted pacemakers/defibrillators with sleep modes that can only be adjusted by physicians; Holter monitors, used to continuously record heartbeat; and glucose monitors that store data on glucose levels.
If a medical device displays the incorrect time after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 14, 2010, users should contact the manufacturer to bring the problem to their attention and consult a health care professional.
Consumers requiring more information about this Information Update can contact Health Canada's public enquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
