Why Do We Need a Leap Year? T he C alculations T hat L eave U s in N eed of an E xtra D ay
problem in 1582 by creating the Gregorian Calendar. Now, a leap year occurs every four years except for the years that are evenly divisible by 100 and not 400. For instance, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years because they were divisible by 100. A LEAP DAY BIRTHDAY The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are about 1 in 1,500, which leaves approximately 187,000 people in the U.S. and 4 million people around the world celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1. People born on a Leap Day are faced with dilemmas such as which date they should receive their driver’s license. Although it varies from state to state, most consider March 1 the appropriate day for leap-year 16-year-olds — who are celebrating their fourth “official” birthday — to receive their license.
A Chilling Threat How to Stay Warm and Safe in Winter It is common for winter weather in Massachusetts to dip below freezing, and our attempts to keep warm can make the second half of winter incredibly dangerous. Some of the biggest safety threats are carbon monoxide poisoning and improper use of electric space heaters. BEWARE OF THE SILENT KILLER — CARBON MONOXIDE Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that can build up in enclosed spaces. People and animals who breathe in this gas for too long can die from CO poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control report that 50,000 people in the United States visit the emergency room for CO poisoning each year. Half of all accidental CO deaths occur in January, February, and March. This is due to the increased use of portable generators and wood-burning fireplaces. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, confusion, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. However, most accidental CO deaths occur when the victim is sleeping, before they experience any of the symptoms. For this reason, it’s important to equip your home with a CO detector and change the batteries in your detector every six months. Never run a generator in an enclosed space, even if the doors and windows are open. If you have a wood-burning fireplace in your home, make sure to get it serviced annually so the flue is clear and safe to use. Lastly, if you suspect CO poisoning, get out of the building, call 911, and seek medical attention right away. Every four years, February gains an extra day at the end of the month. But what does this contribute to the year as a whole? You might be surprised by what this one day does for us! The 365 days in each year represent the time it takes for the Earth to circle the sun. However, the orbit actually takes nearly a quarter of a day longer than that. The additional 0.2421 of a day might not seem like it would make a significant impact, but after a few decades, it adds up. To ensure the calendar and seasons stay on the right timeline, the leap day was created. THE START OF THE LEAP YEAR The Egyptians were the first to officially calculate how many days it takes to orbit the sun, revealing the need for a leap year. Europeans at the time used a calendar that followed a lunar model, which needed an entire month added to retain consistency. The leap year wasn’t introduced into Europe until the reign of Julius Caesar. With the help of astronomer Sosigenes, Caesar created the Julian Calendar, which included 12 months and 365 days, with a single day added every fourth year. However, the Julian Calendar wasn’t perfect, because 0.2421 of a day can’t be rounded to a multiple of five, so it caused the calendar to have an extra 11 minutes every four years. Pope Gregory XIII fixed the
With all the changes the calendar has undergone, it still isn’t quite perfect. Experts say that in about 10,000 years, it will need to be changed yet again.
BE CAREFUL WITH SPACE HEATERS Never buy a secondhand space heater. Purchase only the newest models that include all available safety features and carry the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label. When you pull your space heater out of storage, check that it is still in good condition. If the cord is damaged or hot to the touch when plugged in, get rid of the unit right away. Do not leave your space heater running in an empty room or while you’re sleeping and keep the 3-foot perimeter around the unit clear. Don’t place your space heater near curtains, bedding, clothes, or paperwork — anything that could catch fire. Most importantly, never plug your space heater into an extension cord or power strip. These can overheat and start a fire. Only plug your space heater directly into an outlet. Fireplaces and space heaters can be a welcome sight during a winter storm, but it’s important to practice care. Warming your fingers shouldn’t come at the cost of your life.
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